Christmas Already!?

It beginning to look a lot like Christmas around Phoenix. The stores already have their holiday decorations and goodies out. Their strategies work. I am totally thinking about Christmas already (but on the cheap).

I don't think I have had a Christmas cocktail party for over 10 years but I like the idea of it. In my mind I am Martha Stewart and my beautiful guests will be arriving any moment for my artfully arranged food and drink.

I love a little Baileys Irish Creme during the holidays but now I am thinking about peppermint schnapps. I saw these adorable little candy shot glasses online and thought they would be fantastic for a party. Nazdrowie!

I found these shot glasses here.

From Crack House to Mayer

I have been following a blog from Ohio for a while called This Old Crackhouse. It featured the adventures of a guy named Gary who was fixing up an old homestead int he city that was once a stately mansion and gradually was reduced to a crackhouse over the years.

Gary lives in an older neighborhood in Dayton Ohio and had written about his struggles in the neighborhood. He had had enough dealing with he city and at one point just decided to run for mayor.

Gary ran for Mayor and today he won! I just love this story. I don't know what this will mean for his blog but if you haven't visited it before click here for the link.

Congratulations mayor Gary!

Another link to a nice video of his acceptance speech.

Ghosts of Halloween Past

My sister and I back in the day when plastic masks were the rage.

I have always loved Halloween. My mother used to make us some pretty cute costumes when we were children. As my sisters and I became young adults we would really get into the costume spirit. The tradition continued when I got married and my husband and I used to throw an annual bash.

My hubby back in the day. Yes, I sewed this fabulous costume myself.

Me and hubby. Not sure what my costume was but it was comfortable.

My Sister B from Maine - you guessed it.

My sisters and I as women riding circus elephants. I'm on the right. (old photos)

Our lives have calmed down and we no longer hold the Halloween parties. In fact we don't seem to know enough adults that enjoy getting dressed up for a party.

I leave my efforts to the trick or treaters. This year we had 105 trick or treaters at our home this year.

I miss the old excitement of the holiday. Regrettably I bought too much candy this year and have a ton left over. What am I going to do with it all?

Passing Time

Two weeks ago I took a little vacation from work and drove to New Mexico to visit friends and attend Balloon Fiesta. I drove during the day and it was about a seven hour drive from my home to Cedar Crest where my friends live.

I drove alone and my husband met me later in the week. Since I was alone and could do WHAT EVER I WANTED. I took the opportunity to stop and look around when the mood hit me. When I travel with my husband I don't get the luxury of stopping at overlooks and roadside plaques. He loves to get to his destination in record time. I LOVE to stop and gawk.

The scenery was beautiful the whole way there. I had not gone but an hour from my home when I drove by a little building. I was curious so I turned around and went back to take a look. I was in Superior Arizona and the building was a little roadside shrine.

This was the one year anniversary of my Aunt Cecelia's death. My cousins had already put out the call for drinking a cold one in her honor but I thought she would get a kick out of me lighting a candle for her at a roadside shrine.

Aunt Ceal and Uncle Bob

God bless you Aunt Ceal. I didn't hoist a beer but I hope a Margarita was satisfactory. I knew you wouldn't mind.

2 1/2 Weeks A Retrospect

Wow, I've been such a bad blogger. Have you ever been too tired to post? Well I'm blaming anemia. Of all of the exciting things I have done in the past few weeks one of them is being diagnosed as anemic.

Well, since I was too lazy to post for a few weeks I thought I would fill you in on my exciting life as seen by the camera on my phone. Here's what I have been up to and not necessarily in this order.

Attended an insurance seminar in Scottsdale. First night, happy hour mixer under the lights.

Breaking out for rabid discussions about the state of health insurance in the USA.

This was actually a very fun well run seminar.

Hung out with some cowboys on an excursion sponsored by the seminar.

More cowboys at a fun cowboy supper.

Lovin' it. Steak, Chicken & Arizona Strawberries (beans ya'll)
As my Grandpa used to say.... beans beans the magical fruit. The more you eat the more you toot. I wonder if that's where the expression rootin' tootin' cowboy comes from.

Cowboy bar. Hell yeah!

Drove a fellow seminar attendee to a high spot for a photo op. This is near Camelback mountain looking out towards central Phoenix.

Grocery shopping at Fry's marketplace. Saw this sign. Thought about buying it because my inlaws are visiting for Christmas. Still pinching pennies. Didn't buy it.

I may have to draw it in crayon and hang it in their room. I'M ON A BUDGET YA'LL!

OK. That's two ya'lls in one blog. Must stop now. Let's get classy now with some purse shopping.

OK. I'M ON A BUDGET! Didn't buy. Just caressed a little bit.

Cool imports shop on Indian School Rd in Phoenix. They used to sell furniture but it looks like they are getting heavy into purses and jewelry. Sweet.

A bunch of us went to lunch at Pro's Ranch Market in Phoenix off 16th street. What a hoot. A little stressfull because there is so much going on there. Once you get your food it is cool though.

Yum.

OK, This week also included other things that I have no photos of. Me delivering meat products to my co-workers. Me going hormonal at work. Me taking a thousand multivitamins a day to help combat my anemia..... more on that later.

I hope you enjoyed my retrospect. I'll try and be a better blogger.... and a better person - God willing.

Let's Hug it Out

Drama at the office this week has me analyzing myself and the people I work with. If you are like me and work in an office full of complicated people maybe the following prayer/mantra will help you too.

Words to Live By..

People are often unreasonable & self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It never was between, You and Them anyway.

Mother Teresa

Inglourious Basterds - Hell Yeah

The hubby and I went to an early showing of Inglourious Basterds today. It was very good. I love Tarantino and we own most of his movies. I had heard mixed reviews but if you are a fan then you will not be disappointed.

It's a world war 2 movie that would have been a perfect ending to world war 2.

Brad Pitt played a great character and I particularly enjoyed hearing him speak Italian.

Loved it!