I've been tagged!!

Finally!  I've been tagged!  My dear friend The Mom tagged me (I guess I was on her mind after our girls' weekend) and apparently I am supposed to share my quirks with the world - my personal philosophy is that you can't figure them out, I shouldn't have to tell you about them!  However, I have whined about never having been tagged, so if I don't step-up and respond, then I will never get tagged again - and I REALLY want to be, so here it goes!!

1. I have a very specific order of how I do things in the shower.  My rationale is that you start at the top and work your way down so that you don't rinse dirt over and area that has already been cleaned - smart I think!  Shampoo, rinse, conditioner - hair up in a clip to let the conditioner soak in and do it's thing, wash face, wash body (top to bottom of course), shave (pits then leg - the whole top to bottom thing - and you don't want to shave before you wash and get dirt in a potential cut) then go back and rinse out conditioner.  Drying off is the same way - hair in a special super absorbent hair towel then dry top to bottom on front, then top to bottom on back, wrap towel around me and step out!

2. that's it, my only quirk!!  Just kidding!!  I like to have my closet organized in a very specific way - the shirts for example - all tanks together, then short sleeves, then long sleeves, then cardigans and sweat jackets - during the cold weather the order is reversed!

3. I must have milk in my coffee (preferrably 1%), not half and half (yuck) or creamer or worst of all powdered creamer!

4. I have no problem hanging out in my pjs all day if I'm not going anyway - they're so comfortable, who said that you had to be in bed to wear them?

 

5. I love taking pictures or regular things from irregular angles - trying to make it look abstract - my art form!

I am sure that there are plenty more - perhaps this will just be the first installment!! 

Off to watch another episode of Ace of Cakes - my favorite Food TV show!

5 favorite things...

A friend of mine told me yesterday that she was going to a 40th bday party and that the hostess had given everyone a little tote with their invite and asked them to put 5 of their favorite things in it and bring it to the party.  At some point during the party, they are going to exchange totes with others in the room.  I thought it might be fun to do that out here in blogland, I'll go first...  In my tote, I will put an extra-large, super soft blanket to curl up in, a copy of one of my favorite books - I think I'm in the mood for The Red Tent today, a large coffee mug (for sipping your favorite warm beverage), a compfy pair of lounging pjs and a box of chocolates to snack on!  Sounds like a perfect sunday afternoon to me!  Perhaps I will throw in some #10 knitting needles and a skein of alpaca yarn for a nice scarf in case I feel like chatting instead of reading!!  I'd love to hear what's in your tote!!!

I am sick and tired.. no really

Really, I am sick and tired!  I got this dreadful cold from Big S whilst at Mac's funeral as did everyone else there I think, but for some reason I can't shake it. Hubby has it too, but it left his head and is hanging out in his chest, MIL has it only in her chest, I on the other hand have endured 8 days of wet-cement head, blocked ears, scratchy throat, blocked sinuses... and the last 48 hours have added a horrible dry, deep chest cough that really SUCKS!!!  I hate being sick, I have things to do including packing for my girls' trip.  I CAN'T BE SICK!!!!!  Please everyone, send me healthy vibes so I can get on the plane thursday night without being contagious!

countdown in single digits!!!

I can hardly believe that another year has passed and it is almost time for out annual Toetat5 girls' getaway!  6 days from now I will be relaxing with a cup of Joe eating someting fabulous from Miss Bloom's kitchen and celebrating my 41st birthday with 4 of my dearest friends in the world!!  I spend a year looking forward to these 4 day escapes!  The 5 of us have been through a lot together: births, deaths, lots of moves, diapers, potty training, first day of preschool, first day of elementary school, surgeries, illnesses, weddings, all night scrapping, stamping, knitting, drinking, eating laughing, crying, quiet time doing nothing.... the list is as  endless as our friendships!  I love these women with all my heart and am so blessed to have them in my life.

  When we decided to plan a getaway 5 years ago, I was getting ready to leave our small CA town to move to the midwest where I knew no one and the first of these trips was a lifeline for me.  Now I have visions of us years from now, gray haired (ok, more) sharing graduation pictures, wedding pictures talking about retirement...  We know that no matter how hard life gets, we are there for each other and that when life is too wonderful to imagine, we are there to share and rejoice together!  I raise a glass (or rather a coffee mug) to the Toetat5!!  See you thursday ladies!!

rest in peace Mac

We just learned that H's dear Grandpa Mac passed away during the night last night.  I will never be able to do justice in  a few words to the life that he had, but know that he was a kind, gentle loving man whom we all adored.  Mac was 86 and until about a month ago in very good health for his age - still working a part-time job to stay busy.  This picture was taken in July when we were back in NY for a visit.  He is survived by his darling wife Gen, a son and daughter, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  He will be sorely missed.