Here today, gone Tuscany

There will be a slight interrup-tion in the blog while I am away on holiday. My husband and I are indulging ourselves with a walking tour of the hills of Tuscany via Backroads. You have your choice of the 3 mile hike, the 5 mile or the 8 mile each day...after all the gelato, wine, and pizza I plan on enjoying I would think we'll be choosing the longer option on a daily basis. After Italy, it's off to see the relatives in Provence...life is good. Smile and be happy while I am away...be back the middle of June. Ciao!

The living is easy

Everyone knows about summer from when they were a kid. Family vacations, you could stay out late with your friends, no homework, you went to the pool everyday...summer rocks when you're a kid.
And so I propose summer for everyone. Why not a 6-8 week break for every employee in the USA? Now, we can't take them all at the same time because summer would suck then. Everything would be closed because everyone would be on their summer holidays. So, some people can take their summer in the winter while others opt for a spring or fall summerlike break. I think we would all be much more relaxed upon returning to our places of employment and eager to welcome back a routine as well (and a paycheck).
Maybe it's a dream but maybe not. Your homework is to think of a way to get a few carefree days of summer in your life and enjoy your day to day routine that much more. Class dismissed.

Potluck

Ah, the words that stir the hearts of churchgoers everywhere...it's the annual pot luck. Now, for those of you that are not familiar with such a term it's when all that are invited bring a dish to share with others. You show me yours, I'll show you mine sort of thing.
At my place of employment there was a salad potluck with a buffet of salads to cool off the hungry employees for a lunchtime treat. I actually like this idea because no one can really screw up a salad, can they? Even if you're brainless you can buy a complete salad kit in a bag, bring a bowl...bada bing,bada boom..you got yourself a salad to share.
The day of the salad potluck arrives and I'm setting up the bowls of salads, adding dressings if needed, fluffing and tossing up a lunchtime to wow buffet.
In walks employee #1 and asks if she can fill her plate now because her lunchtime was booked. I said "sure, go ahead and if you need to do anything special to the salad you brought...feel free." Employee #1 says "Oh, I didn't bring a salad" and proceeds to load her plate with the other responsible people's salads!! See you later, freeloader.
Then, employee #2 comes in with a small plastic container about the size for a sandwich . Okay, I thought, it's not going to feed the entire staff but atleast she brought something. She opens it up and its a cut up apple. One frickin apple. She asks me if I think she should put some lemon juice on it because she does have a half of a lemon that she could use. I work with nutjobs by the way. Again, watching from a distance, I see her and her husband (one apple brought for the two of them) loading up for the day. And the joy of all this is when the husband goes and takes a dump in the office public bathroom just to let all of us know that he had a good lunch.
Potlucks use to be a competition of sorts. "You gotta go try Margaret's pie!" "Did you taste Dottie's meatloaf?!" It was always entertaining to see who would bring what and to try something new. Do your part, potluckers of the world...wow them at the buffet.

Save the last dance

I admit it. I'm addicted. I can't stop. I love, love, love Dancing with the Stars. As cheeseball as it sounds I just have to watch this show. I gotta tell you-- the final three contestants are excellent. They dance their feet off, they entertain us...it's like a sporting event (with two out of the final three contestants accomplished athletes...I suppose it really is). Last week I actually voted. I called in for my favorite (and by the way--he made it through!) Next week is the final show and I'll be there with my dancing shoes on.

Knock, knock

Only a man would have thought of this movie title. Is it my delicate upbringing or does anyone else find this term rude, vulgar or demeaning? I just can't imagine a woman announcing to her husband "oh honey, I'm so happy! I'm knocked up!"
I understand from pre-movie reviews that the content of the movie gives more than the title implies but the title alone would force me to choose something else at the ticket counter. Think of it this way... would a man ever be persuaded to buy two tickets for the hilarious summer flick "Castration"?

A feature or a flaw?

I would say I have the gift of above average voice recognition. I will always be the one to ask if you recognize the celebrity voice on a commercial or the star that is narrating a documentary. And the most recent Charlotte's Web with all the animals talking in voices? Easy peasy.
Recently a friend from college who had consumed one too many alcoholic beverages called me up and said "lissen...I bet you won't know who this is" and handed the phone to a blast from the past voice on the other end. I totally knew it was Liz from my sorority college days and I had not even thought of her for years and years. I would consider this gift a feature...my husband who needs total concentration during movies and does not want to be bothered...a flaw.
I also have amazing cell phone etiquette. I know when to talk in public places and when to say "I'll call you back later". I look with disdain at those people who talk about private matters at the grocery store or who do not acknowledge the Starbucks counter girl because they are too busy yammering on about their daughter's soccer game the night before. Can you actually feel comfortable talking to whoever about whatever in a doctor's silent waiting room filled with more people than you can count on your fingers and toes?

But then again, those people who have this ability to spill their guts in public places perhaps consider it their best feature. I consider it a flaw....unless of course I can recognize their voice.

Wish upon a Star

I thought they had everything on YouTube. Unfortunately not. The newest commercial from Cox Communications:

a little boy about two years old, is obsessed with Pauly the Penguin. His mom reads books to him about Pauly; he has the DVD's about Pauly; life is Pauly the Penguin to this little boy. Mom brings the little boy to actually see, live in person, Pauly the Penguin at the local mall. The two wait in line and you see the little boy sheepishly peeking around the other people to take a look at Pauly. It's time.

The little boy awkwardly climbs the steps to shake hands, to hug his hero. And there it is. The little boy turns around to his mom, frightened look in his eyes, lets out a whimper and awkwardly climbs down the steps back to mom without ever seeing the penguin. The last scene shows the little boy sitting joyfully in his stroller being pushed by mom while watching Pauly on a portable DVD player...content.

Sweet, sweet, commercial but it got me thinking...how many of us are like that? Wishing for something, imagining it to be true, and when it's just about to happen...we become frightened and don't go for it. We become complacent with the dream and not the doing. Don't be content with just the wish. Believe you can do it. Go for it. Embrace your penguin.