Saturday, December 22, 2012

Away in her manger

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Shana decorated the tree on Wednesday, then left. That was a first. Off to sleep in her new place, leaving us alone with a twinkling pine and three star-struck cats. Even the dog that would scrounge around, eating through boxed and wrapped chocolate gifts brought home from the office wasn't here anymore. What's Christmasy about that? But tonight, after a mother/daughter movie, the kid followed me home. Cuddled on the sofa for dinner, The Santa Clause and some country Christmas songs show. The Ho Ho Ho is back. 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Arcadia Holiday Reunion

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Showed up with my hot date to a sea of faces from the past, including by BFF from second grade. We remembered the slumber parties, my rec room, the panty hose for Junior Assembly, the cool mom that would let us play dress up and the other one that wouldn't (they're still not speaking), and all the years in between. As so many seem to fade away, it was fun to come full circle and add back the long ago to the present, mingling on a beautiful, some of us will never leave, Arizona night.  

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Segal's Spectacular Spicy Sausage and Spinach Soup

Even with the wind knocked out of him, the man's a perfectionist. Solid. Thorough. Hand-picking appropriately sized spinach leaves, carefully slicing thin sausage rounds, then halving those, except for the every-now-and-then thicker chunks to tide over the chef. Sautéing, marrying the flavors, adding broth, then noodles, slowly heating to a boil, testing. All for a bowl of soup. That's how it's always been. Thoughtful. Logical. Look it up. Mmmm, it's good. Worth the effort.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Indigo Swing

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Johnny Boyd and the Indigo Swing at the Fat Cat Ballroom (no bar in the place, so, of course, we Arcadians had to buy beer to drink in the parking lot - just like the good old days!) before watching Johnny B swing his stuff. Fun, fun.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Book Club - No book, but a Limo!


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Twas the night of book club
And all through the town
The ladies went scurrying
Watching Christmas lights full blown
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Starting at Louise's
Arugula pesto and Brie
Old friends and new
White elephants under tree

Piled fourteen in limo
Out into the night
Mini me crowd in front
Keeping the downers upright

Passed Little Baby Jesus
Our most precious tradition
Thanks, "I love us"
With never a condition

Cruised to The Coach House
To raise a cup
With all the red above
Looked like Santa threw up
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Rolled back to base
Leaving smiling donkeys behind
Until next year
When back in limo we'll climb
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Friday, December 14, 2012

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"Hold hands and close your eyes."

Thursday, December 13, 2012

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If it weren't for the cactus and big SUVs out front, it could have passed for a rainy, winter night in Paris. Sidled up to Eddie's bar with big red bows and the coolest bartender in town as the girls gossiped over some vino before hitting the art-filled streets on a it-finally-feels-like-summer's-over night.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12/12/12

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How about THAT for a birthday?

Skipping work and taking Shawn the birthday boy down to Bondurant for a few hours around the track.

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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Crafeteria

First Friday Fun sidling up to the bar at St. Francis,
then perusing away at frances vintage,
with a nightcap at Kitchen 56

Monday, December 3, 2012

Movie Madness - Silver Lining Playbook

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Whoa, just when you thought you were the crazy one in the family, everything changes.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Two-Door Two-Step

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I traded the mom sedan for a tiny two-door a few months ago, figuring my days carting around a gaggle of girls, with their muddy soccer cleats and purple softball bats, were over. The first Civic excursion was a summer trip to Pinetop with a sidekick that pops to the top of Camelback Mountain every morning, so she had no problema squeezing into my small, sweet ride as all four cylinders chugged up the big hill. We've had nights on the town since, with four grown-up passengers, not a rolling backpack or bag of Goldfish crackers in sight, that went well, too. But on an excursion last week, with two out of four ladies on the injured list, I was wishing for a mini-van. The tall one with the unbendable ankle cast needed shotgun, leaving the one with a new fixed-up knee to maneuver into the back. It wasn't pretty. Like a game of Twister, everybody called out instructions to both in order to avoid further damage - left foot here, butt first, head down, bend lower, watch out, push the seat back, need some ibuprophen? We all finally made it in and as I drove by the two SUVs parked in front of my house, I wondered why we didn't take somebody else's car. We made our way down the 51 to The Windsor and my prayers were answered when I scored a parking spot right up front, thankfully avoiding a ten minute valet audience while we unraveled ourselves, one backwards, a-la Winnie The Pooh, from the car, until we are all cracking up.

Dear SUV in front of my house, "eat your heart out."

A Sprite, A Rosebud and A Snowflake


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All that glitters is gold! I got one of the last tickets today to see Snow Queen, where the Stern Sisters stole the show!
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