BABYSITTING IS NOT FOR SISSIES

Henry and I spent this past weekend babysitting while the kids went on the cruise to nowhere...yes, it did go somewhere but everywhere it went they could not get off the ship due to weather, hence the trip to NOWHERE.

Being a parent these days is not for the faint of heart...drop off, pick up, tennis, bar mitzvah, Hebrew school, basketball, symphony rehearsal, go to symphony.  I will be updating my LinkedIn account for chauffeur as well as time management.

At one point during the shuffling we were left with the youngest of the two who is having a love affair with chipotle chipotle.com.  Being the good CC I said you can go anywhere you want for lunch (knowing we were 200 yards from his fave, chipotle).  He said, I don't want to go to the chipotle by party city.  I said, no problem, which one do you want to go to.  There is one by a peiwei he says, I'll look up peiwei on Google map and away we went.

Henry begins grousing about how far it is, which I thought was funny. It was our two hour time frame between drop offs and pick ups and herewearedriving in the wrong direction.  LOL right.  The little one keeps saying it is much better att this one than the other...that is when we arrive and realize he gets A PLAIN BARBACOA TACO WITH CHEESE.  That's it. I thought Henry's head would explode.

On to the Spooky Symphony which was terrific.  During the intermission they had a costume parade. I am sitting, knitting in hand, thinking to myself, WOW it is so funny that so many kids in Miami dress as Fidel Castro. Then it hits me...DUCK DYNASTY. Am I the only person to notice the similarities?

Really, who knew??

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

I have a few vices....one of which is a total and complete love of Law & Order.  

I will watch any Law & Order, at any time, regardless of how many times I have seen it, or which one it is...Law & Order

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

(My fave...I admit...the tilt of Vincent D'Onofrio's head, Jeff Goldblum's piano playing, sigh)

Law & Order: Trial by Jury

(Does anyone other than me think it is odd that a lot of this cast is now on Blue Bloods??)

Law & Order: LA

or

Law & Order: UK

I record many of the episodes so if I am disappointed with something on the tele I can have something to watch (ok Chopped is always a "winner, winner, chicken dinner")

As we sit, and you here the classic gavel drop (duh duh), Henry will say "I think that we have seen this?"  I say, "No, I don't think so." and there we sit, watching.  Halfway through, Henry will say--you are right, I don't remember this at all!!  There is something nice about routines.

We were having our usual dinner on Friday night at Italio (think Chipotle for Italian food), and Henry says, "The oddest thing today.  I kept hearing a sound.  It sounded like the gavel on Law and Order.  I looked everywhere.  I thought maybe it was outside...someone doing construction.  It is so annoying!"

I looked at him in astonishment.  "You really have no idea what it is??"  "No," he said,  "it really did sound like Law and Order, you know the duh duh at the beginning."

I started laughing.  Henry, it is my text sound.  Were you texting me?  I checked my phone--during the afternoon alone he had texted me 12 times, much less all of the other texts that I got.  Thank Heavens, it was not a phone, he would have listened to the Raymond Burr theme song every time it rang.

Perhaps that explains why my phone is always on vibrate!!

Flashback to flashback diner!

As a follow up to our hideous experience at Flashback Diner in Boca, there was an article in the paper from the health department that they had to stop sales due to food temperature violations.

This probably happened while people were waiting for their orders to be delivered to the table.

La de da

In 1978 I went to work for Estée Lauder and began the adventure of a lifetime.

The movie of the year was the always hysterical Annie Hall.

There are so many classic scenes in this movie, but the lobsters will always be a favorite.

...or the bumper cars...

or Marshall McLuhan ... Ahh, I digress.

The reason this is important is that everyone wanted to be Annie Hall...or at least dress like her.  Layering was the way to go. Shirts and vests, and floppy hats.  It was great.  If people could layer their clothes, why not their fragrances...enter the introduction of THE NEW ROMANTICS by Estée Lauder.

This was a new concept for the company and involved the introduction of three independent fragrances that were developed to work together when you layered them:  Pavilion, Celadon, and White Linen.  Only one remains, as the concept was ahead of it's time and still remains elusive today....the clear winner was White Linen.

My clear favorite was Pavilion.

Why did I go off on this tangent you ask??

Well, in sorting through stuff preparing for our move in February I found soap.  Not just any soap--that's right, Pavilion Soap.  It was so precious I did not want to use it and then have no more, so I saved it...for 35 years.  

I have to say that I think it has held up much better than I have. It was nestled nicely with a bar of Azuree (quite simply the best soap ever).

Still unable to tear open the cellophane--I regifted the 33 year old soap.  Won't someone be excited when they receive it!!

I was going to title this Saver or Hoarder, you be the judge!! but I did not really want to hear the answer.

Let's see what I find next.....

Happy New Year!!

PUT YOUR GAME FACE ON

At this time of year, everyone seems to be obsessed with shopping (although since I am in retail, I could be biased).  Gifts seem to get harder and harder, because, lets face it, most of the people we know have everything and want for nothing.

Finding something special is hard to find.

Surprising me with a gift is unheard of...that being said...

Henry gave me a nutcracker!

Isn't he the cutest?

I thought the "m" stood for Merry and then he opened his mouth...

Out of the mouth of this babe came...

HENRY and HENRY and HENRY and a few I LOVE YOU CATHI M&Ms

that's right--it is his little face on that M&M

What did Henry have to say about his culinary mastepiece?

You guessed it!!

 ...and, diet be damned...I did...

down the rabbit hole!

A TALE OF TWO DINNERS

Two dinners.
Two nights.
Two extremes.
Morton's and Flashback Diner (the name speaks for itself).
Two things that I never thought would be said in a restaurant.

First to the General Manager of the Ft. Lauderdale Morton's:

"Would it be possible for you to ask the gentleman at the next table to quit watching porn on their phone?"

Second to the General Manager of the Flashback Diner at 9:15 prior to receiving our food (we arrived at 7:15)--did I mention it was an omelet?

Henry said:  "You do know that I have no intention of paying for this meal, should it ever arrive."

I am sure Henry will be thrilled to know we are going to Flashback Diner for Christmas Dinner--hopefully, they have begun cooking it now!!

Sometimes simpler is better.

SMILE...YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA

Most of you reading this blog, remember Allen Funt and his show, Smile...you're on candid camera!

Before Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd, we would gather round the TV and belly laugh over some of the hysterical things done on the show...below is one of my favorites, for those of you a little younger the item in question was called a typewriter, you punched the keys and a key swung up and hit the ribbon which hit the paper.  It took alot of skill to hit all of the keys with the same force so that they all looked the same.  If you watch mystery shows from years gone by, you will see them look for a typewriter with a key that is a little off, or they will recreate a letter by looking at the ribbon (impossible).

http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/2316/Flying_Typewriter_on_Candid_Camera/ 

OK, this was one of my faves, then there was the bowling alley date...oh, the laughs.

I have not thought of this show in years...until tonight.

Henry and I went to visit a new Vitamin Store, one of his favorite places (although he does not believe in vitamins).

I am wandering around looking at everything, when I spotted the lotion section...and we know I love lotions of all types.  I check them all out and make the decision of which one I will try.  I put my hand under the pump and pressed down--as I watched the bottle projectile spew a giant stream of lotion directly into my crotch.

I did not move. I actually looked up at the ceiling for the camera and Allen's voice saying

SMILE...YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA

http://www.hark.com/clips/nwsrtkqwgc-candid-camera-theme-song 

I'm baaaaaccck!

 

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE...

I know you are probably thinking that this blog is about the fact that you have not seen anything from me in the past year...but no, it is not.

I am constantly amazed that virtually every place you go there is a television.  Fine restaurants now look like bars, with TVs in every corner (at least in the bar).  Are the TVs supposed to be conversation starters?  We certainly cannot talk about the books that we have read, because no one reads anymore.  

We went somewhere the other day to eat and of the twelve televisions to choose from we could play games one of them and they brought game consoles to the table.  What to do, interact with someone and play a game with them, or keep playing on my phone with my game friends.

All right, today we spent the day with Katie and the boys...

We had a fun day...shopping and eating.

For dinner, we went to Rocco's Tacos where we watched them make their delicious Guacamole at the table.  This thoroughly fascinated Jack, Seth did not notice because he was playing a game on Henry's phone.  Between the phone play on my right, and the TVs celebrating Danika Patrick and Michael Jordan, a good time was had by all.

I thought the bombardment of media could not go to an additional level...but, I had to go to the restroom.  Yes, grasshopper, there is a moral to this story.

As I sat down on the toilet, I looked straight ahead to the delightful framed picture in front of me.  It was then that I realized that this was not a picture, but a framed TV showing The Three Amigos, and I was able to have Chevy Chase serenade me from seat height. 

Has it gone too far????  Or is it just my imagination.  I did think it was nice of them to add closed captioning.

It is indeed a Brave New World.

By the way...I am back...

THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS

These are the people who have changed my life.  They look nice don't they?  Welcoming, friendly, happy.  These are the new dealers.  They do not deal cocaine, heroin, pot.  They do not take your money...well, maybe a little...they take your TIME!!!  They are dealing CRACKAPPS!!

I am now an addict.  These people sneak around the inside of your phone promising you a few minutes of fun during your daily grind.  The next thing you know you have 20 games going (the limit--thank God) with people you know or don't know.  It becomes your only way to stay in touch.  My husband and I would never play scrabble together, but we sit in chairs next to each other in front of the TV and play Word with Friends all night.

My husband's handle is Always72.  The last time had a handle was on his CB in the 80's and it was the cockroach...what's up good buddy??  I digress, sorry.  We are sitting in our respective chairs, and he is seemingly playing without touching his phone.  I would play and then by magic, he would play a word.  Finally I realized that i had started a game with Always 72 (with a space).  Yikes!!  I told him and then he Always72 faced off with Always 72.  I, of course, am Parkwaysmom doubt that there is a Parkwayspop out there but it is possible.

I have been playing nonstop for four years with HEYRNULD.  After three years I found out we lived within miles of each other.

I play with the person who sat next to me at the Padres game.  We quit watching the game and just began sitting and playing.

Then we moved into Hanging with Friends

Then Scramble with Friends

Then how to cheat at all of these games.....then, when your friends aren't good enough.  You can play with your buddies...


 I have to say that their programs seem to be more addicting than most.

I could play Dice with Buddies for long periods of time--without thinking.  Again, my husband and I could be playing Yahtzee but no.  The only thing that I think while playing this is--does noone work? 




Then you get to the all time fave Jewels with Buddies.  This is bejeweled with people.  When I got up this morning I have 58 games where the ball is in my court.  58 games--made worse by the fact that I only play with a person by the name of Tavo.  That is right, 58 games with one person--TAVO.  This game I never win...never.  Yet I continue to play and he/she continues to play. 

When you count all the games that I play it is not unusual for me to have just under 200 matches waiting to be played.  When you go to dinner you can look around and see people playing games rather than talking with their friends, etc.  Seriously people!!!!

It is time to step back and take a break.  I am stepping away.  If I play with you, I am through....if I try to play with you remind me that I am through.

Although, while doing research on this blog I found out that they have released Matching with Friends....maybe I could try it just once.....

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

I was scrolling through the TV channels and I saw "You've Got Mail"...and I thought, Wow, I think I will watch it--I loved that movie.

AOL was new!
The dial up noise was still there!
Meg Ryan was adorable!
Tom Hanks was, well, Tom Hanks.



Laptop makers had not figured out yet that if they were going to be in TV and movies they needed to turn the Logo upside down and make it Huge and illuminated.

Owning a store was romantic -- they left out the part about bills etc.

Meg was perfect NY, black tights, sensible shoes, turtlenecks, and twinsets.

It was fun to watch people run home to turn on the computer, wait for the dialup, and see if they have mail--not have their phone beep, buzz, or alert you that you have mail.

I was driving home from dinner last night and saw a flash of light and thought I was being pulled over by a policeman and it was just my phone flashing to tell me I had mail!!!

Still would like to have Meg Ryan's cute hair...

...and now by way of this Blog Post YOU HAVE MAIL!

SLIDING BACK THRU TIME

When we were making our move...I found some old slide trays.  Sonny happened to be there and gave me a ration of trouble about not tossing them into the infamous 1-800-GOT-JUNK truck.  I said there were very important things on the slide trays.  He was here the other day and is still texting me about being a loser for not tossing them via text. 

So SONNY THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!

One of them was from my 30th birthday, which is 31 years ago today.  The box top said HAPPY BIRTHDAY! in, if I am not mistaken, Katie's pristine writing.  These were the papers in the box--to be read with the slides.

I would like to share with you this lovely, thoughtful gift, courtesy of the old slides from one of the boxes I would not throw out.  The verbiage is what was written to go with each slide.  I should tell you that Henry and the three kids traveled to all of these places to take the pictures and then worked together (like a school project) to put together the slide show.

1. Happy Birthday? Let's leave our house for your 30th birthday.

 2. Would you like to go to Publix to go shopping?

 3. Or maybe there is a letter in our box?

 4.  How about a swim meet at the UM?

(Slide from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce)

5.  Maybe a beautiful house in Coral Gables??

6. You had better go to your bank and get some cash,

7. for a movie (some things don't change)

8. Let's just stay home

9. and enjoy Florida!

10. or take a ride to Sanibel!

11. Or swim in the ocean?

12. Go to Disney World?

14. A Big Mac?

15. or a whopper (minus tomato!)

 

16. or a hot 'n juicy!

17. A wet burrito?

 

18. What about spaghetti with butter and garlic?

 

19.  Cafe L'Europe in Palm Beach?

21. A Shopping Spree at K-Mart?

22.  Some new shoes at your favorite?

23.  Big trouble!  It can't be!

24.  Bigger trouble!! Forget it!

25.  The bigest trouble!  Impossible!!

26.  Let's go back to Disney!

27.  Your favorite store!

28.  A New account!

29.  Weren't you just there?

 

30.  LV luggage?

31.  A matching handbag to your wallet?

32.  Lillie Rubin's is closed.

33.    It could be Gucci!

34.  How about a 1/2 hour in Neiman Marcus and 1/2 hour in K Mart.

35.  Back to your favorite shoes!

 

36.  Our favorite luggage

37.  You've got Ultra Swade (yup that is how it is spelled)

38.  How about a weekend in Palm Beach?

39.  Then you are near Burdines!

40.  The "Best" is yet to come!

41.  Worth Avenue?

42. Pay off your Lord and Taylor charge?

43.  Now back to Worth avenue.  I'll bet you think Worth Avenue has something to do wtih your B-Day!!

44.  Your own needlepoint shop!

45. Or maybe your own airport?

46.  Baggage we don't need

47.  Maybe airlines we do?

48.  A Foreign airline?

49. A big jet?

50.  Back to the Bahamas?

51. Maybe St. Louis?

52. or back to Merida!

53.  or "Say Hello to Pan Am?"

54.  Stay in Florida?  Yuck!

56.  Thunder Mountain?

57.  No way??

58.  I really like Disney!

59.  Let's take the kids!

61. Space Mountain!!

63.  These places?

64.  On a big jet?

65.  Big trouble!  Sit Down!  Relax!

66.  No way!

67.  Europe?

68.  Are those tickets?

69.  That's right!  May 2nd this Saturday!

70.  That's right!  Air Florida! Confirmed!

First off this seems like only yesterday -- not 31 years ago.  How many of the icons above are now gone--seriously, who knew Taco Viva would not make it? or Pan Am? or TWA? or Burdines? or Jordan Marsh?  Who knew I would actually have a needlepoint store....or a child?  You never know where life will take you...I just know I am unwilling to throw out the small stuff!!

Onward to 2012...dinner at Michael's genuine:

By the way--Katie's handwriting is still pristine!!