Someone is Having a BIG Birthday This Year

My Mom is turning 80 this year.  Yes, eighty...80!!  I cannot believe it.  I am planning a party for her but do not know what all I should do..you know, invite all of the siblings, nieces, nephews, friends.  But, what do you do special?  I did a portrait of my her and my Father years ago, but I do not think she liked it.  She said she had no where to put it..hmmm, does that tell you anything?  Just like the other night, we had this couple over for dinner and they were oohing and ahhing over some of my paintings...I said take one..and they said, "No,".  DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, so you party people out there, what do you do for an 80 year old birthday?  I feel that the party should be about her..her life...I need to get my party groove on.

Are you Ready for Some College Football? Let's Party...and Eat!!

Guacamole Dip

• 3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

Marissa's Butterfinger Cake

I am posting this so that I will have it...
1 Box yellow cake mix
1 can sweeetened condensed milk
1 large container of cool whip
2 butterfingers

Bake cake as directed.  Let cool.  Poke holes in cake.  Pour sweetened condensed milk over the cake...Spread the large container of cool whip on top, crush butterfingers over cool whip...drizzle with carmel (the kind you used over ice cream)

September 11th, 2001

I cannot believe that 10 years has passed since that horrible day.  Our daughter Holly had just gotten married in July of that year.  Matthew had remarked that he might never eat again as Holly was no longer living at home (yes, she did most of the cooking and babying little Mattie).  And, then, I recall sitting at my desk at work and my boss coming over and saying, "Come into the breakroom, something is going on."  I got up and walked into our break area and the TV was on and a plane was flying into the World Trade Center.  I recall thinking that it was a small plane or something.  I msg'd my husband and said, "a plane just hit the WWTC." But, then another plane came zooming into view.  And, about that time we started to hear that these were passenger planes...American Airlines.  My boss at the time's brother was a pilot for American Airlines.  He immediately started trying to find out where his brother was.  "My God, we were under attack."  I sent my husband another message and told him that we were under attack. Then, the Pentagon was hit and that plane that crashed in PA.  This was not supposed to happen in America.  This was something out of a horror movie and I felt as if I was actually watching a movie.  Only, this was real. So real. 

 Later, we were told that we should go home and be with our families.  At the time, Matt was in high school.  I remember just being glued to the TV.  Just being absolutely devastated.  It was a horrible time.  And, all of the stories that came out afterwards.  People being stranded all over America and could not get home.  A friend was in Russia adopting a child and could not get home.  One of the terrorists trained in Lawrenville, GA.   Boxcutters were reported to be on planes in Atlanta.  This was crazy.  This could nto be happening..but it did.  And, still to this day, when I see a plane flying low, it scares me to death. 

I hope and pray that nothing is planned on the 11th or anytime.  I hope that everyone stays safe.  And, I pray for all of those whose lives were changed forever on that dreadful day.

We will never forget.  No, we will never forget.

Feeling a Little Blah Blah...

I really think I need a pick me upper.  For some reason, I am feeling the blahs.  Old, Old, Old.  I need a dose of my own advice and I cannot seem to muster up a dose of get over the freaking blues and go own with your life...be happy, make things happen...Rock with it....Oh, yea, yadda yadda, whatever!!!

September 9th

Say Happy Birthday to Little Katie (Katherine Noelle Monahan) will be 1 year old on Friday.  My, how time goes by. 

Labor Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend celebrating with all of the family.  Tom and I went down to Hilton Head early, ahead of the gang, and had a wonderful two days before everyone started to arrive.  The next few days were filled with golfing and a most interesting golf challenge between Matt K. and Tom.  Needless to say, Tom won.  I am still not convinced that Matt K. didn't let him win.  I hear that the MK is really good.  Well, they had a great time with all of that.  Going to the beach with the kiddies was so much fun.  Watching Will and Taylor romp in the waves with their Papa, Uncle Matt and Aunt Linda was so much fun.  They had a blast.  They are lucky to have such a great Aunt and Uncle.   It was so much fun, then it all came to an end.  I was so sad to see everyone leave.  Then, I got to thinking about when they were little kiddies and now they all have their own lives.  Where did the years go?  I had to drive back from the beach by myself to an empty house as Tom left from Savannah to go out of town.  Feeling sorry for myself?  I think you might say that. 

Hmmph!!