Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The World Is Your Oyster

It's that time of year again. The one where your mailbox is filled with wonderful announcements. Announcements of dreams fulfilled. Twelve years of hard work, studying, football games, exams, parties. High school graduation is a wonderful mark in most everybody's life. It's closing the door on our adolescence and opening another to our future adulthood. Whether that includes going into the military, making the journey to college or joining the workforce. It's their choice. The world is their oyster.

It's worth celebrating. Shout it out to the mountaintops! To those that we see on a most regular basis to those we haven't seen in a number of years. When do we know what is appropriate to send as a gift?When is a card enough? Just because you get an announcement does Miss Manners say that we are obligated to send a gift? Are we supposed to consider how much the travel expenses would be? 

Obviously, each person's financial situation is different. Not everyone at every time can  give a gift of monetary value. Nor, may they want to. There are many different types of gifts.  

If  most expect some sort of monetary gift, is it too much to expect a thank you note that consists of more than ONE sentence?  I guess that one sentence thank you note is better than no thank you note at all. Instead of presents, when is presence enough? 

Whether a gift is received and a thank you note written, congratulations graduates! You have the world ahead of you. Every possibility awaits. Your childhood behind you, the world ahead. Take advantage of every great opportunity. Seek counsel from others when there seems to be too many choices, or not enough. Most of all, enjoy every moment!



Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Caviar and Donuts

Let me tell you, an anniversary is worth celebrating! It's worth acknowledging all that you have gone through in the last year, and all that you look forward to in the future. It's a wonderful time away from the kids, to remind ourselves that we are husband and wife before we are mom and dad. Last but not least, it was a great excuse to bring out the gorgeous Ralph Lauren one shoulder navy dress* out of the closet!

We started out going to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. It's probably overpriced to many, but for one special night out of the year it's worth it. Hubby had called ahead and made our reservation and mentioned that it was our anniversary. As we were seated, our hostess scattered rose petals across the table.

After we had ordered our meal, the waiter had brought out a small plate of caviar with embellishments. Compliments of the staff. Hubby and I were in awe. We had never tried caviar before, so we had no idea what we were in for. We took one for the team and tried it. It was the closest to a fishy taste without the texture. I like fish, but I want the texture when I eat something fishy. 

When we got our main coarse, it was one of the most perfect steaks I've ever had. Who do I have to pay to teach me how to make a steak this good? I want to know the secrets!! I savored every wonderful bite. 

At the end we knew that we shouldn't, but how could we pass up dessert on our one night at one of the best restaurants in town? But we didn't pick one of the traditional desserts on the menu. We actually picked cinnamon sugar donuts with warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I've never had a donut like this. 

In our Saturday night finest we've started the meal with caviar and ended it with donuts. How romantic! It was  a wonderful atmosphere, great food and terrific company!

When we were done with dinner the subject of what to do next popped up. We thought about going to the movie or going to hang out at the bookstore. Hhmm....then Reunion Tower popped into my brain. I thought it would be fun to go to the top of the tower and see the wonderful city and watch the sun go down. Wolfgang Puck has a restaurant at the top of the tower called Wolfgang Puck's 560. It's named 560 because it's 560 feet up in the air. We had no room left for any more food, so we hung out in the bar and watched the city go from early dusk to night time. It's really unique at 560 because the floor rotates, very gently and slowly. It takes about an hour to turn completely around and see the wonderful city. 


Our next night out, it's a shoe in that we'll make reservations for 560. Hubby and I look forward to spending a nice dinner time out with this gorgeous view. 

*awesome purchase for $45 from refinestyle.com, brand new with the tags still on it. 

Monday, May 16, 2011

Thirteen

It is considered to be bad luck by many in the Western culture to dine with 13 people at the table.

This may be because of the Last Supper - Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples betrayed Jesus.



The card deck includes 13 hearts, 13 spades, 13 squares, 13 clubs


Benjamin Franklin
Virtues:

1. TEMPERANCE.Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE.Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER.Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION.Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY.Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY.Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY.Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE.Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION.Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.CLEANLINESS.Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11.TRANQUILLITY.Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY.Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY.Imitate Jesus and Socrates.



The fashionable Savoy Hotel in London, England does not take any chances. If you book a table for a party of thirteen, you will find that the table has been set for fourteen guests. Kasper, the black cat will be joining you for dinner. Kasper is the three foot sculpture cat that resides at the Savoy Hotel.


The business woman, Mary Kay Ash believed thirteen was a very lucky number. The company was founded Friday, September 13, 1963. The Mary Kay headquarters has thirteen floors and thirteen passenger elevators

Sometimes the number 13 is a bad thing. Sometimes a good thing. Chalk this one up under the good thirteen file. On May 16, I get to celebrate my thirteenth wedding anniversary. 

Thirteen years of growing. Growing together into a family. Growing in love. Growing older. 

Thirteen years of laughter. Silly, and sometimes stupid, jokes. 

Thirteen years of loving my best friend. Loving through all of the good, bad and the ugly. 


Thirteen years of not wanting to be apart if I don't have to be. 


Thirteen years of not being able to stay mad very long at the man I love. We've worked through lots of things and I look forward to working through what we haven't yet. 


Thirteen years of everyday life. More ups than downs. Together. I wouldn't trade it for anything or anyone.








Monday, May 9, 2011

Yep! You're Right. I'm Not Your Mother

There's a lesson that I think every married man with children should consider about Mother's Day. It's not about extravagant gifts or going to fancy places. It's about a sweet acknowledgement of what we have together. The best of both of us wrapped up in sweet kids that I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.

I'm not your mother, but I am your wife. I carried those two kids and loved them from the moment we found out we were pregnant. I will love them beyond what they can ever imagine.

I'm not your mother, but I am your wife who you chose to go on this parenting journey with. With every up and down that we experience, we experience it together.

I'm not your mother, but I am your wife and best friend. Long after the kids are grown and out of the house, it will be just you and me. I will still need a, "Happy Mothers Day" from you to let me know that you care and to know that you think I did a good job.

I'm not your mother, I am the girl that thinks she won the husband lottery. I couldn't have picked a better man to have a family with. Our kids know how a man should treat a woman. They look up to you. Every Father's Day I think how lucky, not only our kids are but how lucky I am as well.

If I hear one more man, even in a joking manner say that his wife is not his mother, I might have to pinch his head off. You* know that there have been plenty of times where the wives have had to be your mother at some point in time.

*the metaphorical you of course.....