MEMOIRS

...JUST A QUICK ONE TODAY...WE SAW "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" THE OTHER DAY...VERY GOOD MOVIE, BUT AS A HUGE FAN OF THE BOOK, IT WAS A BIT OF A LET DOWN. I'VE READ THE BOOK 50+ TIMES, AND JUST HAD MY EXPECTATIONS TOO HIGH, AS I ALWAYS DO WHENEVER HOLLYWOOD DECIDES TO MOVIE-IZE MY FAVORITE NOVELS. AGAIN, DO GO SEE IT IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST, BECAUSE IT IS VISUALLY STUNNING...

ANOTHER BEAUTY DAY

Woke up to another lovely FL day...makes you forget how unbearable it can be here in the summer. Snowbirds are evident everywhere you look...huge mobile homes from PA, Maine, Jersey, etc. are more evident on A1A as they travel back here from all holiday destinations.

We've been doing lot's of "home" things with ak's mom...clearing palm fronds, fixing blinds, moving paintings around, checking sprinklers, killing fire ants, etc.

Looking forward to hitting the town of Melbourne proper...they have just opened and exclusive handbag store that carries only bags from Greece-you know I'll be all over that! Also, ak's mom and her art group have rented a new studio in one of the historic downtown buildings, and we will go to their open house.

Work continues on many of the homes here from the previous hurricanes-some people have not been able to return to their homes for over a year now. Can you imagine?

One of my favorite things here are the sunsets-we are on the river, and they are so stunning...a portrait in the sky every night.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

HELLO AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS....THEY MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT AND REALIZE HOW LUCKY WE ARE YO HAVE SUCH AWESOME FRIENDS AND FAMILIA!

CURRENTLY IN FL THE WIND IS BLOWING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE SUN IS BEAMING AND IT IS 78 DEGREES OUT! I CANNOT GET OVER THAT WE HAVE THE A/C ON TODAY :)

WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING OF PRESENTS (CNN-WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE HOT PINK FUR SCARF I GOT, AND YURMAN-STYLE BRACELET), THEN AK'S MOM AND I STARTED IN ON THE BLOODY MARYS AT ABOUT 11:00AM, AND WE ARE NOW ON OUR 3RD BOTTLE OF VINO ( IT IS ONLY 4:17 AND I HOPE WE MAKE IT TO DINNER AT 6PM). :) WE ARE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE HERE TODAY, SO AS GOOD HOSTS WE OF COURSE HAVE A DRINK WITH ALL OF THEM. :)

THE GOOSE IS IN THE OVEN, SMELLING SO DELICIOUS IT IS INSANE...HAVING TRADITIONAL GERMAN-STYLE CHRISTMAS DINNER-RED CABBAGE, SAUSAGE STUFFING, ETC. YUM YUM YUMMY!!

WE ARE THINKING OF ALL OF YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE! MERRY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

XMAS DECORATING FLORIDA STYLE

We made it! Flying on the 21st was a very good idea...our 2 flights were full, but everything was on time and no baggage lost :)

It is hilarious to see how Floridians decorate for Xmas-the huge blow-up Santas, snowmen, the globes, 10 foot lighted figurines, garland, etc, next to the sand and surf. It just doesn't fit. We do have a favorite, though, where the homeowner put lights on all the palm trees in his yard-wound around the trunks and scattered in the fronds...that is how to xmas decorate Florida-style!

We did the mall and some local shopping-actually fun as we were all together. I had a glorious mani/pedi today, and now feel flop worthy. The manicurist asked where I was from because my feet were so pale....I still gave her a nice tip :)

Getting ready for one of my favorite activities-wrapping gifts!!!! No paper cuts, please!

Chrissy-a bed is totally available for you here if you bust out of Swarthmore!

.....more later from the sunny south...

CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA

For the first time in my 36 (young) years, I will not be spending Christmas in Media. Heading out to Melbourne Beach, FL tomorrow afternoon to spend the holiday and New Year with Ak's mom.

Looking forward to something different & somewhere warmer, but still a bit sad, but due to the changes in dynamics of our families in the past 2 years, we must make changes also.

Nothing like packing flip-flops in December!

Also looking forward to taking the blog show on the road...talk to y'all later from the Southern side!

STAY WARM!

POLLYANNA ANGEL

This mystery guest showed up Saturday night...I believe she is the Angel of Pollyanna, spreading xmas joy and much champagne wherever she goes. Thanks for stopping by, honey!

Pollyanna Pics

Sorry about the red eye, but it always happens when the picture taker has had at least one bottle of champagne.
Raymonds new haircut is shown here-look how handsome our boy is!
Few of us are lucky to have such friends, and I am so proud of all of my girls! It's like having a posse from the Wild West-friends that are there for you and will help you no matter what wherever they may be. And to the girls with children, I must say you have produced the most beautiful children-just amazing! Can you imagine us ever dreaming what 2005 would bring us as we sat in our various Penncrest classrooms? I know I was thinking of 6th period with Mr. oerther so I could smoke in the lab, or my office duties with Mr. Fertel where I could also smoke and check out our tests being run on the ancient mimeograph machine....things wer alot simpler then :)

THE DAY AFTER POLLYANNA

Well, I finally arrived home today at 6pm, after leaving for the party at Chrissy's at 5pm Saturday. Feeling a bit tired, but I must say it was the best pollyanna so far! Good food, yummy champagne, and hilarious conversations...I forgot to hang up my cell phone with ak at one point during the festivities, so he got an earful on the orgasm discussion in full mode at that point. Classy moments. Gifts were well thought out this year...no cases of beer or gift certificates :) After everything wound down, Chis and I donned our jammies and began watching one of the best movies of all time- Urban Cowboy. I only made it as far as Bud and Sissy's wedding, but Chrissy lasted longer. We woke around 9am and surveyed the damage, I had a few smokes and 5 glasses of apple juice, we discussed highlights of the party (Raymond made a short appearance with his awesome new haircut-more on that & pictures later), then fell back alseep until about 2pm-excellent naps.
Just unpacked all the goods, and gonna hit the sack and TIVO.
Thanks so much for hosting this year, Chrissy-it was a perfect night for all of us. Hanging out today was fab-that has to happen more often :)

LATE NITE IN THE TREEHOUSE

So our friend arrived from Richmond finally-much traffic. Upon arrival, the computers, parts, etc. came out and the 2 boyz began speaking the tech. It has freed me to continue my preparations for Pollyanna-those who know me understand that I totally love wrapping gifts very well and very creatively. I've been having a ball. Winding down, though. Ready for bed, and the Daria on the TIVO. Leave the boys to their evil plans.
Tomorrow nite will be awesome-we've been doing this since 7th grade-many of hussies have not made the cut over the years and have been asked not to come back-kind of like T.O. So many funny stories-uncooked food, re-gifts, but best if all is the consistency in the conversation hilarity between friends who have known each other forever, and are all completely different-and are able to say anything to each other...we are a lucky bunch.
Holy Swahili Sister's Uncle's Brother's Band...I'm out blogging!

Testing 1 2 3 

First Post

Well, the first words...feeling some pressure so I'll just tell you what is currently happening in the Bat Cave. I am working on some delightful edibles for the annual pollyanna with the girl's @ Chrissy's. The KitchenAide is out and working OT. Ak is making some dvd movies for xmas presents of our many travels this year-we're having fun picking out the accompanying music (Ludacris doesn't tickle the older folks as it does us, and his mother claims the Black Eyed Peas sound like bad tribal music-what can you do?).
Watching the snow today-had to head out and get mama some groceries and meds. I feel like a chauffer because I am. Saw Don at the pharmacy, and that's always good. :)
We have one of our good college/California buddies coming in tomorrow from Richmond (mainly so Ak won't be lonely on Sat nite-I'm sleeping out!). Chris, I may bring my nightie ensamble from the Las Vegas trip :)
Right now for me it's a toss up between writing some xmas cards and wrapping, or scrubbing the guest bathroom.....you know which one I will pick!