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Revisiting Carnival Cruises – 15 years later.
Oh, the stories I could tell about the cruises I took with friends throughout our twenties and early thirties! Starting around 1995 right up until 2001, I cruised on Carnival nearly every year with friends, and did we have a good time! (Such a good time, in fact, that when we showed up on a cruise one year, we found that much of the crew had moved there from the ship we sailed on the year before – including the piano bar musician and our favorite deck waiter – who remembered us from the year before. By name. Let’s just say we had a really great time on all those Carnival cruises. Perhaps because of…
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Saying “Hi” to Granddad (or, Waking the Dead)
My kidlings have never met their paternal grandfather. Sadly, he passed away long before they were ever the proverbial twinkle in their father’s eye. The Hubs tells stories about Granddad Fred, of course – anecdotes particularly – but whenever we visit Colonial Williamsburg, where my husband lived as a child, the stories tend to flow as he reminisces. We spent the Easter holiday back in the US, and the latter half of the trip with the Hubs’ side of the family. On our way home from a day exploring Colonial Williamsburg, I knew we’d be passing by the cemetery where Fred was buried and suggested we stop in. It had…
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Simple in Barcelona
My little family unit is well into the first week of our “Great 2011 Med Adventure” – which I’m thankful we have the opportunity to experience – but I’m finding that the things that are sticking with me the most are the simple things. The quiet moments sitting on a park bench enjoying the view. Walking hand in hand with my 5-year old, listening to her chatter about what she sees. A family dinner, enjoyed at a slow pace because there is nothing to distract us, no pressing chores to do and no urgent need to be anywhere (sorry, Macy-pup, we love you, but your need to pee can cock…
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Flashback Friday – One Easter Sunday
I will call this Flashback Friday – but really, two weeks isn’t much of a flashback (unless you’re Lindsay Lohan and you’ve just had a WHOLE lot to drink…) Lost blog mojo. Whatevs. I did mention that I’m behind, right? Otherwise, it might seem odd that I’m blogging about Easter two weeks past…… We were in Chicago for Easter this year, and were lucky enough to have my sister and her family come up from St. Louis as well. Of course, Easter morning we had to have an Easter egg hunt. Unfortunately, it had rained pretty hard overnight, and we were hiding plastic eggs, so the backyard wasn’t looking like…
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Flashback Friday – Cousins
I stumbled across this photo when going through some old files, perfect for Flashback Friday. I don’t know if I should admit that the blue TERRY CLOTH outfit I’m wearing was one of my favorites at the time. (Think it may be a holdover from the ’70s, but I’m not sure.) I’m not sure exactly how old it is (other than early 80’s), but it’s a bit depressing as it reminds me exactly how much older I am than my cousin Sarah (yess, that cutie is none other than @prsarahevans, sitting on the lap of @marianslibrary)….although, it IS proof that I once possessed awesome metabolism! We’ll be heading back to…
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Wordless Wednesday: Generations and Genetics*
Gmom and Pea even stand the same way….
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Fill in the Blank Friday – Thanksgiving
Thank GOD it is Friday – it has been such a long week, and it is only by His grace that my children have lived to see tonight that I have survived this week. I’m flabbergasted that Thanksgiving is only a week away – or, should I say, that my family back home will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week. Me? Not so much. With just the four of us, Thanksgiving feels like just another family dinner, only with too much food. Anywho… It’s Fill in the Blank Friday, and this week is all about Thanksgiving (because next Friday I suppose most of you will still be in a turkey coma.)…
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The Cracked Pink Cup
One of my favorite books from childhood was “The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It is the story of four orphans, Henry, Benny, Jessie and Violet, who run away and live in an abandoned boxcar they found in the forest. Henry is old enough to do odd jobs to get a little needed money, and they furnish their boxcar home with goods found in a local dump. I remember being captivated with Benny (the youngest) and his cracked pink cup. I wanted a pink cup and a few mismatched spoons and my own playhouse with no rules. There was an innocence and simplicity that was endearing – and a…
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Travelling Solo
This week, I’ve had to travel back to the States for my grandfather’s memorial service. Not wanting to subject the kids to the time changes and disruption involved with a short trip overseas, I’ve come on my own. Alone. Solo. Uno. Yes, I’m childless for FIVE days. My husband asked: “What will you do on that flight, all alone?” The reality? While I was completely unencumbered – it was one damn long flight. It felt endless. No fussing. No whining. I was free to read, watch a movie without interruption – and it was the longest damn flight I’ve EVER been on. I miss my kids. I miss my puppy,…
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Women Who Inspire Me
Today’s post is to talk about someone who inspires me – but people make their marks on you in different ways, and it is hard to choose just one person. I think the biggest inspiration comes from my mom. Especially since I’m basically becoming her, daily. We are both emotional, and wear our hearts on our sleeve. We’re quick to jump to protect and defend those who are important to us. We both tend to, well, yell. A lot. (I’m Italian. That’s my story.) We’re both oversensitive. We both love to read, and if we have (haha) free time, can be found with our noses in a book. One clear…
