Desert Magnolia

..but not too big a breath because the To Do list is pretty long right now! First, there's work. Lots of setting things up to run while I'm away, of year-end closing and New Year planning and fulfilling old obligations, etc. But I'm doing my level best to not take on new stuff...before I head out. Because doing so would involve initiating, then abandoning (essentially) fledgling projects, and I do not like to do that. Then there's domestic stuff. Like planning clothes, packing, battening down the hatches at home in prep for being away for over two weeks, and so on. And getting a hair cut. And mani/pedi. And finishing up my portion of another big project I've undertaken. (details later). And trying to stay focused and calm and productive while inside I want to BE AWAY right now! Because Providence awaits. As does Paris. And beyond that Abu Dhabi. And then Kansas City on the return leg. Christmas abroad we've never done, but we're all really looking ...

If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry. Happy Monday!

It's Thanksgiving Eve, and all through the house not a creature is stirring...oh wait, wrong holiday, but it's all coming together. 'It' being baking and prepping and bonding and generally settling in for a family event. Today included, but wasn't limited to: Breakfast Making NY Style cheesecake (came out looking very yummy) Going for a most amazing jog in the balmy warm early afternoon Hanging out with the girl..catching up, talking about life, college, boys, friends, etc. Taking a nap Baking pumpkin pie with the girl Relaxing and writing a blog post while G.G. and daughter work in the kitchen (dinner- G.G.'s famous green chili patty melts on rye-ummmmy!) Catching up on Modern Family (daughter) and watching other fun silly entertainment just because we can. That's pretty much it so far, but if this is any indicator of how the weekend is going to go, we're in a most amazing place. Happy Thanksgiving and big hugs to everyone!

"There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth... not going all the way, and not starting." -- Buddha Here's to starting down that path. And here's to going all the way down it. Happy Friday!

G.G. and I have been discussing just what needs to happen for the upcoming extravaganza at our casa, and mostly we're on the same page, which is nice. Because then we don't have to go through the fight and make up cycle while we're getting ready to host Thanksgiving. That cycle? Exhausting. Anyway, our menu currently looks like this...which, if you've seen my prior menus, is a little leaner. Kind of, but not in a material way... Turkey (herbed) Stuffing Gravy Twice baked sweet potatoes Garlic green beans Garlic mashed potatoes Cranberry relish, fresh Biscuits Mimosas Wine Cider w/cinnamon sticks Cheesecake Pumpkin pie w/whipped cream Apple or Cherry pie w/ice cream Coffee or tea or maybe brandy Did I miss anything? With any luck it will be nice out, and we can toss the football around after dinner/during halftime of the football game. That makes Turkey Day just about perfect. Well, that and a good family feud over who gets the last dollop o...

Seriously. My last post? Pathetic. I'm in the high-tech business! I know that information flows in at warp speed and part of my job is to manage it well. I guess I just wasn't managing it well right at that moment so I whined a little. I apologize. You guys deserve better than that. Like TV trivia, perhaps. Ok, so what about Dexter? Is anyone watching that right now? I am so hooked on that show, when Deborah dropped yet another f-bomb in a conversation in the last episode, I looked at G.G. and said, 'You know, she's charming in kind of a prickly, fresh, no bullshit way.' He just looked at me and said he didn't think she could be considered charming..that wasn't quite the right word. Ok, G.G. And what about House??? I love that show, I do, but I have to confess, it's starting to wear on me a little. I'm tiring of the incessant mind games, though I love the new characters, and the reintro of the older ones...that was cool. But it's star...

A few minutes ago, when I was on the phone, I received a text, an email popped into my Inbox and three people IM'd me AT THE VERY SAME TIME! Now I'm not a brain surgeon, and mostly incoming texts are from my family, which is nice, but emails generally require me to act on something or produce something and IM's? Always about 'needing just a teeny little bit of information to push forward on XYZ project.' Seriously, people. I'm turning off my phone. I'm shutting down my computer, and I'm going to try to get some real work done. Oh wait, the weird thing now? If you go offline, then people suddenly become motivated to find you and chat and deliver their very important info in person which would guarantee I'd get abso.lutely. nothing more done today. I'm screwed if I do, screwed if I don't. It's a techno conundrum.

So the Friars made it to the second round of the Big East Tournament this year, which is fabulous. They hadn't been to the tournament since 1994, so just getting there was cool. As was beating Rutgers in the first round, but not so much losing to Louisville in the second. But that's how soccer goes-there are highs, there are lows, there is brilliant strategy, there are accidental great moments and unbelievably low moments, from a morale standpoint, but mostly there is no end of drama and second guessing and generally just thinking about it. All the time. Until the season is over. So the season is over. Daughter assisted with some good goals, and made one of her own, her very first college goal and the only one scored in the game to advance her team to the tournament, which was super cool. She'll never forget that moment, ever in her entire life. And she's coming home for Thanksgiving-not something we were certain of until we heard her homesick voice again in a pho...