Coach Duppler

Tuesday night Sharen and I ventured over to our old stomping ground. EHS! Go Maroons..
The only problem we were there to watch my nephew Jon coach his Larkin High School freshman girls team against our old high school team the mighty maroons.
We sat in the last row down next to a guy that looked familiar. He was the starting point guard for the 73' Maroon team that went down state and Jon has his daughter on his team. I teased him a bit about his daughter being in the wrong colors. His wife disagreed. She was a Larkin Royal grad. We reminisce a little bit about the old school and the good times had.
It was strange watching Jon in the leadership roll. I can remember going to watch HIM play. Time does march on!

55 can be OLDER!

It's Saturday night and I'm curled up on the sofa under my quilt with a fire in the fireplace. Since I don't care much for college football and my Bulls already lost this afternoon I started channel surfing.
185 - the Hallmark channel had a movie that looked interesting. "The Christmas Card". It had Ed Asner in it so I watched it. Pretty sappy, but I enjoyed it.
The next movie had Ernest Bourgnine in it. I like him too so I stayed tuned. "A Grandpa for Christmas".

Mike came in and asked what I was watching - I said Hallmark - "You and my mother!"

Then I realized the commercials. Quaker Oats, Boniva, Activia, AARP. OH MY GOD!!! This is an old persons channel.
The movie made me cry - I mean the sobbing need a kleenex cry and I loved it!

55 can be YOUNG!

Welcome to the 21st century!
That was the first phone call I got (from Bryan) and the first text message I got (from Andy). Great minds think alike!!

I was at Kohls shopping w/Sharen the other day - Saw some shorts that Bryan liked to wear on sale - borrowed Sharen's cell phone to call Bryan and ask if he wanted me to get him some.
"When are you going to get into the 21st century and get yourself a phone?"
Well I'm there! This 55er went and got a cell phone. I circled the carousel with all the phones on it and eliminated all the ones that I couldn't read without my glasses. That left 5. Next I looked at cost. OK - Who pays $350 for a phone? Well, not me... The lady let me use the phones to call Sharen to hear what they sounded like. Mike explained to her that she was the one that I would talk with the most and needed to hear me. Bingo - found my phone. The plan was easy. Cheap plan with text messaging (my bowling team LOVES to text).

Turkey Day!!

6:15 am - Wake up singing - YES! I am a morning person. Stuff the two turkeys with the stuffing made last night. The 22 pounder goes in the electric roasting oven the 18 pounder goes in the frig for later.
7:30 am - Snow on the ground -Bryan wakes up coughing and getting ready to go play football, but really doesn't want to. It's nice to have him back home for the weekend.
8:00 am - Pop the turkey in the oven. Peel the potatoes and YES - still singing.
9:15 am - Sit to read my morning papers. Love those inserts! Realize that the proper time can not be spent on reading and put them away for later.
9:30 am - Jump in the shower. Singing all the way!!!
9:50 am - Peel 10lbs of potatoes and throw my Nebraska corn together.
10:00 am - Plug in the heaters in the garage to warm up the place. We set all the tables out there yesterday. I made center pieces from branches from my oriental crab apple tree. Things are looking good...
11:00 am - Mom, Linda and Deanna arrive. Mom wants to see the turkey. Realize the oven is NOT hot. Broken!!!!! All I can think of is - Yes - new stainless steel stove.
Took the corn cassarole to Sharen's down the street and Mike threw the turkey on the grill. Save the day!!!
1:00 pm - Food is being put on the serving table. What are we going to do with all that food? (Ran out of three vege dishes before I could get my plate filled - Note to Michelle - This family loves to eat - double the recipe next year)

1:25 pm - Food is served and all the family is gathered together.
OK - this took me back a step. I was in the kitchen with tears in my eyes. Mike asked me if I was OK. Stop and Listen! Our family is laughing, happy and talking over each other or teasing with each other.
IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!
2:30 pm - Mike is doing the dishes - Sharen and Vicki are drying and me putting them back in their proper places.

Kids are watching Ratatouille in the bedroom
The day is going great.
6:15 pm -After 9 years I finally win a Euchre tourney.
I was partnered with my brother-in-law Bill. We even went through Andy and Bryan (who have each won this thing 3 times and were partners) My life is good!
After everyone left around 7:00 pm. Bryan and Brian both commented on how "It was a great day." My heart felt good.

Toe Injury

Mike and I spent this last weekend splitting wood again. That's three weekends just splitting wood. Now that is hard work and just asking for an injury. Nope - nothing for me but a sore back.
I walk around my sewing table to sit at my sewing machine and trip on the extension cord and break my toe! Go Figure.

Who Can't Throw a Gutter?

Sucking at bowling is one thing, but consistantly being bad is another. Last night I threw 12 splits in 3 games. My first two games were 159's.
My last game I had a 140 in the 8th with a spare in the ninth. Yeah! Throw a gutter and then a nine and I get a triple patch. Just throw a gutter!!!!!
We already had the game one so my teammates are all for it.
Oh no Not me. I was thinking just go for the 10 pin you miss it all the time anyway.

NO - I got a nine. Pins were falling all over the place -It wasn't pretty either. I was laughing too hard to pick it up - 168.

Editorial vs Blog

I love my newspapers. I read 3 papers a day. Whenever we travel I HAVE to have the hometown paper of the city we visit. Favorite so far besides the Myrtle Beach Sun - San Francisco and Colorado Springs.
While most people are sleeping in on Sundays - Me - I'm up by 7:30 reading my newspapers with a pot of coffee. Mike knows how much I like the peace and quiet so he stays in bed sometimes watching TV till he knows that I'm almost through - then he can have the papers (I ALWAYS read the papers first)Yeah, I know what a great guy! I greatly appreciate that! I even love those inserts. I like the idea of holding the paper in my hand instead of looking at a computer screen. Can't find too many ads online either. YET.

Maybe it's in my blood - I work at a newspaper, in the Advertising department. Been there 19 years.

Well at work we are always trying to out schock the next person. I blurted out "Well I got a tattoo" surprised a few people and No I didn't show it. Maybe I was the oldest to get a tattoo, but I was not the only one that had one.
"Well I blog". Me and my big mouth. After they all stopped laughing. They were impressed. I wasn't about to give them my address though.
I tired to convinve them that Blogging is just like the work they do when they write an Editorial. Only theirs is published and mine is a little more private.. The verdict is stillout on that one because mine is uncencored and theirs goes through their editors.

Exercise for 55er's

Sharen and I try to walk everyday. With the time change and the weather getting cold (2 really good excuses) I have been looking for an alternative to move. AARP the magazine had an article on the new Nintendo wii and how seniors were using it to stay active. Bryan has one and we tried it. Mike liked it alot. I wanted to start out cheaper. I heard about Dance, Dance, Revolution and thought I would like to try that. Who doesn't love to dance - and in the privacy of your own home. Bryan had an Xbox game system he wasn't using and offered it. Last weekend he brought it out and hooked me up.
Now I don't know too much about gaming. Though I did conquer Zelda when I was layed up with my foot surgery. I wanted to get a piece of paper to write down instructions on how to turn the game on and what "clicker" I needed to use to make the game system talk to the TV. Bryan had a good laugh and told me "Your not 100 - it's really simple". Okay he was right it was pretty simple.
So I ordered the pad and 1 game. Stay tuned!

Veterans Day

Mike is a marine! "Once a Marine always a Marine".

The City of Elgin is erecting a memorial for all the Veterans of Elgin. A committee was formed. Mike's boss is on the committee. You guess it! Mike gets to do all the "grunt" (military term) work. He has been spending a great deal of time this last week getting everything set up for the Veterans Day memorial ground breaking. Painting shovels, erecting a tent, setting up chairs etc. etc. so all the Committee members and the politicians can get their picture taken shoveling dirt.
I joined Mike at the ceremony just so I can see what he's been up to.
I was overwhelmed. There were men there who took the service to their country VERY seriously. The flag was presented, America the Beautiful was played by the Larkin HS Band, and a speech was given about the history of Veterans Day. Usually I tune that sort of stuff out (History is NOT for me), but I actually listened. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month Veterans Day was born. That's why Veterans Day celebrations are always at 11:00 am.

When the ceremony was over they played Taps. I have to admit I lost it! There was a soldier standing in front of me who jumped to attention, took his hat off and saluted. It reminded me of when they played taps at my Dad's funeral and my nephew Eddie who is in the Army stood at attention. I'm glad I was alone as I walked back to the car to go home.

Hosting Thanksgiving

Thanskgiving in our family is a big deal. There are three sister (Vicki, Sharen, Me) who rotate hosting the shindig. Mary used to be in the mix but she moved to South Carolina. This year it is at my house. Here is the overwhelming menu. YES! it will ALL get eaten.
Karen - 2 turkeys, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Nebraska Corn
Stacy - Green Bean Casserole, black olives
Mom - Rolls, butter
Vicki - pumpkin cake, 2 pumpkin pies, cool whip
Cheryl - Vege casserole, kid food
Michelle - Broccoli casserole, Cookies
Deanna - Vegetable tray, dips
Sheri - Spinach casserole, green olives
Linda - Jellos
Mary - Good Thought :)
Leslie - A Clemson WIN
Sharen - Rutabaga/Carrots, Sweet Potatoes
Carrie - Peanut Butter Browines, dill pickles
Brian, Bryan, Nate, Jon - bottle wine for dinner
Thats the women's part.
The men of the family turn into boys and play "The Turkey Bowl" That means getting up early to play football - rain or shine. Below is the teams from last year. I just hope the weather is as good this year.
Happy Thanksgiving...

Entertainer of the Year

CMA's are tonight - Guess who my favorite is?

I am a Quilter

Here is a picture of my Mom and the quilt that I made her for her birthday last March. I e-mailed this photo to my sisters and Sharen called right away. "How did you get Mom to let you take her picture? And check out that big smile!" Then I knew - I am a quilter. My Mother like her quilt! I realized that ALL my sisters needed one of my quilts. Linda was the only one with a quilt that I had made 5 years ago for her. So this year I set out to give my sisters a quilt for their birthdays. 9/7, 9/26, 10/9 and 11/8. Alot of sewing in a little time. I shipped off the last quilt to my sister Vicki yesterday for her 65th birthday. Mission accomplished.

Park Like Setting

Mike and I bought our house 3 years ago. We looked at our current house mainly because it was down the street from my twin. The ad for the house said Location, Location, Location. How true that was! We live in a park. Seriously - We have deer that wander through the yard all year long. Racoons that want to get into our roof attic fans. I have squirrels eating my outdoor pumpkin and indian corn display. Mice live in our shed. Ask my son Bryan about the coyotes - He has a great story. And we have yard work in the fall. We have nine oak trees (we did have 10 - see previous blog) and one maple tree in our yard. Weekends in the fall are spent blowing, mulching and raking leaves before and after the Bears games. This weekend with the Bears on bye, we got alot done and my flower beds love it.

Bowling Goddess

Andy my nephew is having a hard time with his bowling this year. I on the other hand am setting the lanes on fire. OK - maybe luke warm. BUT - I have raised my average to a 177 and rising. I bowled a 541 last night. I have managed to throw a 200 game/500 series for the last five weeks in a row. Maybe I just jinx myself, but who cares. I'm giving all the credit to my new bowling shoes. Of course, I look good too. Andy likes to bet - Maybe I can fire him up with a little wager each week.....