Tip for a Tuesday....

Expect the unexpected.....and be flexible.

My life moves along much more smoothly when I remember to be flexible.  Since having children, I learned that while it is important to have a "rough" schedule of how I think my day will go, oftentimes little things - or sometimes big things - can come along that call for me to bend so I don't break.

Like today.  I had a rough idea yesterday afternoon about what I had hoped to accomplish in the garden this morning. But after Dudley the basset hound's mad dash across the threshold of the back door after dinner last night tore off part of his nail,  I knew that more than likely I would be at the vet's this morning.

Luckily we got a fairly early appointment and Duds' was soon given heavy medication to make him comfortable while they tried to remove the nail.  The Lady vet, nurses and I all agreed that Dudley was very "stoic" and was holding up extremely well given the level of pain he was in.

The Englishman took this photo of him this afternoon.  Poor guy.  The vet said he would probably appear "stoned" for the rest of the day.  That's putting it mildly - he is out for the count!  And even when he is awake, he doesn't seem to know where, or for that matter, who, he is.

So the garden had to wait.  Being flexible, I didn't stamp my feet and whine about not getting things done on my list.  When the girls were small there were times when it didn't all go according to plan.  Kids get sick, they fall down, they need some extra hugs and kisses.  While teaching I also had to be flexible.  Certain math concepts would take much longer to grasp than the allotted period of time, world events would invite numerous questions which couldn't wait to be answered and some days we just needed to close the books early and dance!

Planning is good.  Just remember that life is always going to go as planned.  Relax and go with the flow.  You - and everyone around you - will be happier if you do.

A Blustery Day.......

We arrived back this morning from a very long weekend at the future "retirement house" by the bay.  The trip home was an interesting one, considering the force of the wind as we drove on the parkway.  Seemed a little silly that there was a sign AFTER we had crossed a bridge warning that wind gusts across the bridge span could cause trouble.  Really?  A little late to warn us - we've just "been there, done that"!

Will keep this short.  I discovered after dinner tonight that our oldest basset hound, Dudley, has torn one of his nails and my mind is only on him at the moment.  He has done it before, but thankfully this time there is no bleeding.  The Englishman and I are concerned for him and the pain he must be feeling.  Looks like a  trip to the vet in the morning will be in order.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and Passover weekend.  The weather, despite the winds, is just what we all need by this time after the winter doldrums.  May the Springtime be with us for many months to come!

Go Grandmom's house.....

Granddaughter M loves coming to Grandmom and Grandad's house. And of course the Englishman and I just love having her! But it is not just the attention of her grandparents that M seeks when she arrives.

After telling her mother, "You can go now,Mommy" as soon as she is in the door, she announces "Grandmom, we go downstairs now." Because M is anxious to go play with Grandmom's toys!

One of the first items she heads for is my dollhouse. Years ago, during summer vacations, the Englishman used to spend time at the kitchen table of our beach house putting together remote control cars. The kids enjoyed watching him at work and then later racing them around. During a family outing to the toy/hobby store to get some parts, I spotted a model kit for a dollhouse. Growing up, my sister had a metal dollhouse and I had a Barbie cardboard house. I never let on that I would have liked a wooden dollhouse. Despite now being an adult, I thought "better late than never" and purchased the kit. My plan was to put the house together myself, working on it across the table from the Englishman and his cars. I also had visions of being a good role model for the kids, that women are handy too!

Though I was determined to complete the house all on my own, the Englishman quickly noted that the process was terribly slow and offered his help. I put my pride in my pocket, and with a sigh of relief, turned it over to him. He had it together in no time and I plunged in with decorating it. We purchased a special table and turntable for the little house and kept it on display in our home for many years. It gave me all the pleasure I anticipated it would.

What I didn't foresee was that it would be such a source of fun with grandchildren. (Who has time to think that far ahead when you are raising little ones!) M sits quietly next to the house, patiently naming each of the items it holds and moving them from room to room. There are two tiny dog figures and she places them in the crib, then decides they need a bath. She is fascinated with opening and closing doors and drawers and discovering hidden treasures inside them.

If there is a children's toy you missed out on growing up, take my advice and purchase it. You're never too old to have the childhood you always wanted. Besides, there might be some grandkids in your future who would love it too!

Thursday's thought for the day....

"The right attitude can transform a barrier into a blessing, an obstacle into an opportunity or a stumbling block into a stepping stone."

                                                        ~ Mayor Corey Booker

I follow Corey Booker on twitter.  He is one of the most positive people alive.  The man seems to work from dawn to dusk and is constantly encouraging people.  What an incredible role model he is for everyone, from kids to politicians.

Anyone remember the World's Fair?

If the above photo looks at all familiar to you, then I suspect you are pretty close in age to me.  This was the "Unisphere" the symbol of the New York World's Fair theme - "Peace Through Understanding".

The fair lasted two years - 1964/65 and was located in Flushing, Queens.

If you've been to Disney World and ridden on the "It's a Small World Ride", then you've experienced one of the many rides offered at the Fair.  It was all so exciting and futuristic.  There were numerous "pavilions"or buildings set up by various companies.  Many of them provided rides of a kind which would take you through their exhibits.  Bell Telephone had displays of what they envisioned phones of the future would look like.  They showed video screens on the phones, which enabled you to see the caller.  I remember thinking you would have to be sure to dress nicely every time the phone rang!

One of my few claims to fame, so to speak, is that I performed at the World's Fair.  My dance school scheduled us to dance several numbers at the New Jersey Pavilion.  I remember the stage, and the small audience before us, but whether I was performing a ballet number on toe or also did a jazz number is only a vague recollection.  But I did perform.  And I felt quite honored to do so and represent my State.

There were also buildings set up with displays and staff from countries around the world.  In thinking about it now, I guess it was a precursor to Epcot at Disney.  At the time, it was said there wasn't much financial success to the Fair and it was plagued with problems.  However, my family and I loved it and were lucky enough to go there numerous times.  I don't think you could possibly put a value on what we learned there, the excitement it generated for the tri-state area, and the vision into the future it offered us.  What memories!

Tip for a Tuesday....

In Case of Hunger Emergency....

Keep at least one package of these in the refrigerator at all times!

The Englishman and I were bemoaning the fact that we didn't have anything for dessert after dinner tonight when I suddenly remembered that the refrigerator held two packages of these.

Will have to keep this post short - off to enjoy milk and cookies.

You're wearing what?

One Saturday afternoon, in January of 1971, my mother and I set off on a shopping trip to find a shirt for me to wear to a high school party that night.  As we came up the escalator in Bambergers Department store, I remember seeing a display of mannequins right in front of us dressed in what could only be described at the time as "unique" outfits.

One mannequin was wearing a bright orange corduroy overalls of sorts, only the pants were actually cut as shorts.  (Quite similar to the model on the far right in the photo below.) They were advertised as "Hot Pants".  What was most shocking to me as we got closer to the display was my mother's comment that the outfit was adorable and that I should try it on.  Excuse me? MY mother, wanting ME to wear something daring?  The conservative woman from Manhattan who was always telling me my skirts were too short?

At her urging, I tried on the complete outfit shown on the display.  Then to my utter surprise, she purchased the whole thing for me - hot pants, shirt and navy tights. (It was winter after all.  The tights were a must!)

To say that the outfit caused a bit of a stir at the party that night would be an understatement.  The teenage boys at the party were quite taken with the new look. There were several shouts of "hey, hot pants!" called across the room.  The teenage girls at the party?  Well, they weren't so enthusiastic about the attention the outfit was drawing. There appeared to be an abundance of whispering and dirty looks thrown my way.  They didn't seem to approve of the new look.

And yet, the next Saturday night found all the same girls from the party sporting the now popular "hot pants". I guess the problem wasn't so much what I was wearing the previous week, as that I had been the first brave enough to don the new fashion.

The 1970's certainly blazed a new trail with some outrageous outfits for the times.  But looking at them now, they almost seem tame compared to today's fashion trends!

Personally, I'd like to see them bring back the clothes from the 1950's - especially the dresses.  With pockets.  I'm just saying......