Today was work. Had an Alternative bagel (1 point) with Bummel and Brown buttery spread (1 point) for breakfast and a Smart One for lunch. (5 points) Left work at 4. Got a Ballet Slippers manicure. Had a blow out at 5. Straight hair and nice nails. All ready for the weekend. Mitchy and I went to Pine Garden for dinner. I had a #28, steamed, with brown rice. Bought some mothers day cards and a birthday card and gift for Griffy. (His bday is Thursday) Watched Kevin Bacon in "Stir of Echoes" last night. Creepy movie. Good though. The cast was made of all TV actors. CSI, House, etc. Funny to see two of the doctors from "House" as young girls in the film. Tonight we are gonna watch "Precious: Based on the novel PUSH by Sapphire" Heard it was heart wrenching and upsetting. Fabulous. Going to a bar Mitzvah in the morning. Hope you guys are enjoying your weekends. Love and hugs.

Good vs Evil

Todays blog entry is the story of good vs evil. First, the usual. Lemme catch you up on my day. Worked. My two bossmen took me to Rotelli's for lunch. Had a Cobb salad with balsamic. Very good. Worked 'til 6:45. Went to Yoga. LOVED IT!!! Got home at 9 and had dinner with hubs. All good.

OK, so now the story of good vs evil.

After yoga I got home and there was a box waiting for me. Good! The US Post Office brought me a big surprise. Good! It was from my son, Mr. Gorgeous! Good!!! It was my very first 50th birthday present! Good! I got a Wii!!! Good! I love my boy. What a great gift! Now I just have to figure out how to use it! All good.

Then I read my mail.

Welcome to AARP!

Very NOT GOOD!!! Evil!

...and how was your day???

Todays picture is my little herb garden. Basil. Cilantro and something that died. Worked. Brought a salad from home for lunch today. Met Marc and the boys at their club for dinner. Ate out on the veranda. Just us 4. So nice. Food at Boca Grove is great! I had a cup of curried chicken soup with gnocchi and a warm spinach salad with 3 huge grilled shrimp. Delish. Watching Tuesday and Wednesdays Idol. (Thank goodness for the DVR) Rascal Flatts is on. Love them. They always suck on TV though. Not sure if they get nervous or if the acoustics are different on television but they always sound flat. (Maybe those rascals have chosen the perfect name for their band. Hee hee!) I've seen them in concert a few times and they are terrific. Not sure what happens when they are on TV. Oh well. They still sound better than I do. Maybe one day I'll post a video of me singing. Maybe not.

When I was turning 40, (ten years ago) my Mom came from NY to stay with me for a birthday weekend celebration. We went to Busch's Seafood for a delicious lobster dinner and we had the first real good time together that I can remember. It's not like we never got along. ...but she was my mom. I annoyed the shit out of her, and she let me know it. ...but after that 40th birthday, I think things changed. She wrote me a beautiful letter on my birthday and for the first time she told me she was proud of me. Well, at least it was the first time I actually heard her say it. Mom said I had raised a wonderful young man and that she thought the relationship we had (Gregory and I ) was amazing. It was nice. I think I always tried so hard to get my mom to be proud of me, and when I wasn't even trying, when I least expected it, she was proud. I guess she was watching all along.

Anyway, about he pretty little dolly in the picture. My friend Ella. Mom and I were walking down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach that birthday weekend and we walked into one of the shops to look around. There she was. Just sitting on a shelf, looking pretty. With her crazy red hair and her double layered skirt with her across the body purse, the bow in her hair, and her socks and work boots, Mom and I just looked at each other and started laughing. Actually, we cracked up! She was me. I mean, I was her. I am Ella! Ella is me! :) Of course Mom got her for me as my birthday gift! So I thought, now that I will be turning 50 in a few weeks, I would share the story of Ella with you.

My other gift for my 40th birthday was the beautiful cameo in the middle of my collection. It was my Grandmas. My mom had it reset and gave it to me for my birthday. It is the prized piece in my cameo collection. She lives in the middle, surrounded by the others. Protected, yet protective. Just like my Mother. I treasure it. ...as I treasure my Mom. It may have taken a long time for us to understand each other, but I thank G-d every day that we figured out before it was too late. Don't get me wrong, she can still get on my last nerve, but I love her dearly and I wouldn't change a thing about our relationship. I cherish every minute we have together.

Lu you Ma.

Woke up this morning to a little bluebird outside the window and knew it would be a good day! Worked. Very busy!!! Went to Weight Watchers. Middle neph had a tutor tonight so no dindin together. Was gonna go to the community board meeting tonight, but met hubby for dinner at Chipotle instead. Had a delish chicken burrito and now home.

Walked the dogs.

Nothing much to report.

Gonna relax and watch some tv.

Love and hugs.

The bird is pooping. --->

That's good luck , right?

Today was late sleeping. Got up at 11. Went out. Did a little thrift store run. Found a mother of pearl fishy. Had to have it. $10. Nice buy. Each little section moves. He's precious.

I have named him "Fish".

After, went to Pei Wei for some steamed chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, and broccoli with brown rice. Then over to Jenn's to visit Mr. Hudson McFarland. I have been told that I may never, under any circumstances, ever, call him Huddy. I still think his name should be Henri, but hey, who am I?

Huddy is so cute.

Jenn says no one reads my blog anyway, so I can say whatever I want!

Then off to Publix. Got some vittles for the week. Tomorrow is weigh in. I hope I did ok. Hanging with the pups. Mitchy is working. I spoke to Gregory for like an hour. He's such an awesome young man. I have always adored him and I have always been proud of him, but lately, I am more proud than ever! For no reason in particular. I just love him and I am in awe of the man he has become. I also bought a new $4 yellow chicken with hot chili peppers at the thrifty mart. I think he's glad to join his poultry brethren on top of our fridge.

We have named him "El Pollo"

Fabulous Saturday! Went to yoga! Saw the girls. Loved it. Did some errands. Had Dunkin' Donuts coffee and a flat bread for brunch. Got Lauri's birthday present, finally. (Her birthday is in November.) Better late than never. Maybe someday I'll get around to Braden's gift and something for the Gordon twins. Went to Mizner Park for a fitting on my glasses. Went to the hospital to visit Hudson Stuart McFarland.

Dropped Cami's phone off at the house. (He left it here after our sleepover.) Went to Stallone's for dinner. Had 2 rolls, wine and salad. Mitchy had salad, wine, garlic rolls, and a chicken parm. He had stinky salami burps after. Ewwww. He swears they weren't his. I'm hoping they were 'cause I surely would rather be smelling his salami burps rather than some strange redneck cowboy sort. Oh well.

After dinner we went to a concert. It was "The Renegade Revival Tour". A few 80's southern rock bands were playing in an open amphitheater, at this park, out in west Boca. The Sunset Cove Amphitheater. We never heard of it but it was beautiful!!! I had heard about the concert on the radio and the day the tickets went on sale, I logged online and hello! 6th row seats! We didn't realize it was a small venue. We could have sat on the lawn for free, but it was awesome! Back in the 80's I started listening to country music. Been a fan ever since.

Here's a story.

In about 1989, I got really close to a girl from high school, Shari Price Nudelberg Barrett. Shari Price and Steve Nudelberg got married just before I did, (back in 1982) Rick (The ex) and I were good friends with them since we are were high school friends. (Donna and Cliff and Ronda and Brian, from last week's party, were all high school sweethearts too) Anyway, after Rick and I divorced, I got Steve and Shari in the settlement. (Rick got Danny) Shari and Steve were amazing. They loved to party and threw the best of them! Invited me to everything. I met my really good friend Joey through them. They were a huge part of my life for many years. Then, one day, Shari and Steve divorced. After they split, I got Shari in the settlement. :) I was really still friends with both of them, but since Shari was a single mom, we hung out alot! Shari was a nurse, had a son a

little younger than Gregory, and was divorced. She and I had a lot in common. We started taking line dancing classes. Yup. Every week, I think it was Wednesdays, Shari and I would go to Desperados, a country bar in Lauderdale, to learn how to dance. Line dances, Two steps, Cotton Eyed Joe and the like. I was uncoordinated, but Shari was really good! We did this for years. We wore our shorts or jean mini skirts and our boots and hats. So it shouldn't have surprised me when Shari was there tonight with her hubby Jim. She looked fabulous!

The show was great. First we heard "The Outlaws". (Green Grass and High Tides Forever? Hurry Sundown? Ghost Rider in the Sky?) They sounded awesome. Then Travis Tritt came on stage. He was so sweet. He talked to us. He brought out his kids to sing a song. He had this amazing fiddler. (What good country group can make it without a fiddler?) By the end of the first set, we were on the stage. Travis Tritt shook my hand! I felt like a Beatles fan, His shook my hand and I was jumping all around like a whacko groupie! It was an amazing night!!! Hope you guys had fun too!!! Here are some pictures.

The Outlaws

Travis Tritt

The Fiddler

Hand shaking time!

The hand that Travis Tritt shook! :)

Autograph time!

Singing

Me in the hat

Mitchy in the hat

WIKI

Travis Tritt (born February 9, 1963 in Marietta, Georgia) is a Grammy award-winning American country music artist and occasional actor, more commonly known as Travis Tritt.

Starting with the debut single release of "Country Club" in 1989, Travis Tritt has charted more than thirty singles on the U.S. Billboard charts, including five Number Ones. His first and third albums—1989's Country Club and T-R-O-U-B-L-E—have each achieved platinum certification by the RIAA, while his albums It's All About to Change (1991), Greatest Hits: From the Beginning (1995) have each achieved gold status. His most recent album, The Storm, was released in 2007 on Category 5 Records.

WELCOME Baby Boy McFarland!!! Jenn, Stu and McKenzie had their new addition, baby boy McFarland, today! April 23, 2010. He was 6 pounds 10 ounces. 20 inches long. He has blue eyes and curly brown hair. ...but no name. Hopefully they'll figure that part out soon.

Worked today. Actually got in early cause I was up from the boys sleeping over. Got in about 8:45. Stayed 'til 4:30. Went home to meet Mitchy and then headed to the hospital to meet Little Boy Mc. He was so delicious. Quiet. Cuddly. Very alert. I think I'm gonna like this one... I adore his big sister McMc. I love his parents, so there's no doubt I'm gonna love Little Boy too.

After the hospital visit, we went to Too Jays and met Mitch's parents for dinner. I had chicken noodle soup and a chicken sandwich. Now we're home watching a creepy movie called "The Stepfather". The guy from Nip/Tuck is in it. Dylan Walsh. He's a freak. LOL Reviews tomorrow. Hope y'all are having a good Friday evening. Enjoy the weekend! xoxo

Had lunch with Katie at "The Grille on Congress". Had a chicken breast and broccoli. Worked til 7. Picked the boys up at their place. Went to dinner at "Juice and Java". Had a Mediterranean Wrap. Chicken, eggplant, brown rice and feta in a whole wheat wrap. Yum. Went to "Orange Leaf" after. It's this cute new yogurt place. They have about 10 self serve machines with yummy flavors. You can fill up your cup with as many flavors as you want. Then there's a "salad bar" of toppings. Nuts. coconut, fruits, candy bars etc. You pay by the ounce. It's new. It's clean and it's fun.

So a little background on why the neph's and I are having a sleepover...first the good news. Brandon, the oldest nephew (the one who just had the gut surgery...) was honored tonight at a CCFA (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America) event. He was given the Rising Star Award, for being an amazing young man. He told me a bit about his acceptance speech today before the event, and the big part was that he was going to tell his parents, grandparents, and everyone else in the room, which college he had decided to attend in September. So as he was saying thank you and making a few jokes, he added something like..."I hope you don't mind the fact that I am wearing a sweater and slacks instead of a suit tonight, but I'm hoping in about 3 months when I go to college, I will have gained some weight and I can get a new suit then. That should give my parents and me enough time to find some good doctors in St Louis, cause I'm off to Wash U!" :) Everyone was cheering! I cried when I heard. Washington University in St Louis is a top ranked school and I am so proud of Brandon!!! We all are! I wish I was there tonight!!!

Anyway, My bro in law went up to Jersey for the day to be there, and I had the boys. Middle neph is 16, and they could have stayed alone, but there was a break in one of the neighbors home yesterday, (That's the not so good news) and the nephs had the creeps. (So did I!) So I took the boys and the crazy white dog over here to our place. All's well. Everyone's safe and sound. Uncle Mitchy is getting up early to take the dog home in the morning and bring the boys to school by 7:45am. Whadda guy. Thanks Mitchy.

Nothing to report. Today was work. Needed information on a stock. Called my Daddy. He researched and got me my answer. He's the best! Lu you Daddy. Thank you! xoxo It was Professional Administrators Day. Boys took me for sushi lunch. (Food is love!) Worked 'til 7:15. Missed yoga. Made pasta. Watched Idol. Watched Glee. Watched Criminal Minds. Walked dogs. Went to bed. Nothing with nothing.

Happy Tuesday! Today was work. I ordered a yummy cobb salad from Rotellis and ate at my desk. Got a lot done today. Very productive.

We had a meeting out of the office at 4:30. After the meeting, I went to Wild Olives with bossman. Had a yumalicious salad, delectable fried oysters over mashed potatoes topped with carpaccio, (to die for) and an awesome piece of swordfish served over asparagus risotto. I had been to the restaurant a few times before, but only for lunch. Dinner was exceptional. Definitely try it if you're in the 'hood. Not cheap, but definitely worth it! Thanks Michael.

Now on the couch, relaxing with my man and our pups. Watching CSI: Miami, Idol, and Glee on DVR. That's it! Hope to make it to yoga tomorrow. Hope you guys all had a great day!

Special picture of the day. :) Self portrait. Me! ...in my new glasses.

Sloane, Marc, Brandon, Griffin and Cameron were all in NJ this weekend. (My sister and her family) Most of them were there for a Bar Mitzvah.

1. 1. 
      

1. 1. Griffy had gone up to NJ on Wednesday to go to the Jr Prom with his friend Ana. He came home last night cause he had missed school on Thursday and Friday and he didn't want to miss anymore. So I picked him up at the airport and we had a sleepover! Yay! He's delish. I love that boy.

1. 1. 
      

1. 1. Isn't he a handsome cat? Ana is a beauty too!

You wanna hear small world stuff?

I started working with my current bossman, Michael back in 1985 when I got my 1st job in the financial industry here in Florida.

In 1988, my sister, living in NJ, married Marc. Shortly after, they bought their first home. It was a beautiful townhouse in a new community in West Orange. Because it was a new development, the landscape wasn't grown in yet and all the neighbors kinda shared the same backyard. My sister lived back to back with a lovely family. They are still friends to this day. Actually, the Bar Mitzvah they attended was the youngest son of that family.

(Stay with me here...it gets better.)

In about 1990, Michael (the bossman) married a girl named Elise. Elise and the guy living in back of my sister in the new townhouse, in NJ, are brother and sister!

Shut up! No way!?! Way!!!

The family made the Bar Mitzvah at my brother in law Marc's family's restaurant. My son, Mr. Gorgeous, is the manager there. He ran the party.

So, my bosses ex wife was at her nephews Bar Mitzvah in NJ and my son (that she's known since he was 7) was the manager. ...Can you say crazy?

That's why you should never burn your bridges. You never know who you will meet that knows someone that you know. Make sure when it happens, they have only nice things to say about you!

1. 1. A 13-year-old Jewish boy, is considered an adult and responsible for his moral and religious duties.
   2. A bar mitzvah is the celebration recognizing this change from a boy to a man.