Finally Friday - Some Gratitude and Joy

 As we contemplate the Thanksgiving season and the rush into Christmas, take a moment. Care!

I helped at the November Birthday Party Project at a local women's shelter. The month's theme was Care Bears and yes, there was a mascot.  (see me above).   When the Care Bear arrived, one of the birthday kids screamed and would have no part of this scary creature. The other two birthday kids were excited, and all of the other children ran up for hugs, pictures, and a magical moment. 

We had Care Bear themed stuff to hand out, games and crafts to play and do, plus singing "Happy Birthday" for November.  Then cupcakes.  It was a noisy messy party - we always call it "controlled chaos".  Kids left happy - a goodie bag in hand and hopefully a happy memory during their lives in transition. 

Take a moment.  CARE

Whatever Wednesday - Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  As I write this post, there is so much uncertainty for folks - food, benefits, jobs, flights, weather.   The list is  huge.  Life seems exceptionally wonky this year. We're dealing with our super seniors - Ray's folks - and health issues.  87 and 89 are tough! 

So, I'm not sure where we are  celebrating and when. (could be at the senior center)

  We are fortunate and filled with gratitude for what we do have.  

 I hope  this post finds you healthy, surrounded by family and/or friends.  Or at peace with a book and streaming a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  If you are volunteering or running a Turkey Trot - I hope it's a lovely day and that smiles abound. 

I am grateful for blog world.  Take  care all.  Blessings.  

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Birthday Eve for My Sister

Happy Birthday Lori!  I post this on Monday and she can celebrate the week.  This picture is from  the University of Delaware. We roamed around it this summer and she's  happy  to  be a Blue Hen alumnus. 
 

My  baby  sister (ten years younger) is still a kid  at heart.  She (right) enjoyed seeing her old  pal Pluto this summer at Disney  World along with her friend, Jenn (left).

Summer concert fun with friends.   Lori is retired, stays fit with her YMCA classes, and volunteers at a local library.  She's  the best. 

Happy Birthday, young'un.   Enjoy a super  week and a healthy year.   Cake!!!

Finally Friday - Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson

 cover blurb - From the scene stealing star of Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids comes a refreshingly candid, hilarious, and inspiring book about her unconventional journey to Hollywood success and loving herself. 

Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson is an excellent memoir. I felt, as I read it, that she  was just hanging out on the  patio and talking to me. Quite a life. From Australia, a shy girl who just knows she's different and blossoms when acting. Incredibly poor, she becomes single mindedly focused on whatever task is at hand. She's enterprising. She plays tennis. She gets a law school degree. She has a gap year  time in  South Africa, and a bout of malaria.

She is candid about  her weight, the journey in regards to her health. 

She is candid about her late blooming love life. 

She is  really, really funny and I read this book with her Aussie accent in my  head. Plus she's far from done - she's  producing, directing, and acting. She's a rebel with  plenty to say. 

Whatever Wednesday - A Beautiful Noise

Ladies afternoon at Bass Hall to see A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.  We are all fans and were eager to see the show. It was created in collaboration with Neil himself - his story as a kid from Brooklyn who went on to become a musical icon.  Over 120 million albums sold and a catalogue of classics. Plus a few marriages and struggles along the way. 


 

The lead playing young Neil, Nick Fradiani had an uncanny voice.  Close your eyes and it was Neil himself singing. 

So many songs - I love "Cracklin' Rosie", "I'm a Believer", "I Am, I  Said", "Play Me",  "September Morn", "Song Sung Blues", and so  so  many more.  What's your fave?

And of course - the showstopping "Sweet Caroline"... SO GOOD...SO GOOD...!

If the touring  production comes to your town, check out A Beautiful Noise. 

Monday Moments - Turning Two

Turning two can be full of ups and downs.  Eating pizza is fun.   This is Levi Faries - a great grandchild. (Yikes)

People bursting into a rousing "Happy Birthday" song brings tears.  Scared by the noise? Afraid of the pressures of being 2?    Mother, Abigail, was there to calm the nerves. 

Doing better once he could eat the cupcake.  Um, red dye icing - a  tad messy

Plenty of presents - but nothing's better than a bike and a lollipop. 

Good luck, Levi, in the Terrible Twos Phase.
 

Finally Friday - After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 cover blurb: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a love story about what happens when love fades. It's about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you've got. Above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game - and searching for a new road to happily  ever after. 

Lauren and Ryan's marriage is  out of sorts.  They decide to take a year off to figure things out. The only rule is NO Contact at all.   Lauren finds this very challenging. She's  questioning monogamy, marriage, romance, fidelity, love, lust, and more.  Key questions - what do you value?  What are you  willing to fight for? 

I enjoyed this story and it does make one think about the whole concept of marriage. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes a good tale and obviously liked her characters.  She's realistic with their flaws and helps them work through a tough year. 

A worthy reading journey.