A Tangle in the Vine

I was anxiously awaiting Labor Day.

We all were.

We even discussed it at the wedding!

But we hit into a snag.

Big Ant #1 will take off on Friday and run around NJ looking at different wholesale markets.

Can we find someone to supply us with 30 bushels of tomatoes?

The lady we normally get our tomatoes from for the past 8 years informed us on Wednesday that due to the weather she will be unable to accommodate our request!

FRI

71°F 21°C
62°F 16°C

SAT

70°F 21°C
67°F 19°C

SUN

75°F 23°C
66°F 18°C

This is the weather forecast for the weekend! Nice huh! But we are prepared – we have tents and we always make due no matter what.

But the weather was horrendous the past few days. That is what did the crop in. So now we sit in limbo wondering what to do.  OK Ant – we are counting on you! – no pressure!

I Seem to Be Getting A Lot of Traffic On My Other Blog

I am enraged.

Should I be?

Or am I losing my sense of humor?

Apparently on another blog someone commented by posting a picture of a Dorito bag (an unusual bag – as it appears to have Oriental writing and depicts two men fighting with one man’s foot on the other’s you know what). Once you click on the picture it directs you to this post on my other blog.

The referring post has something to do with Saddam Hussein and South Park. Other bloggers (commenters) had no idea what the connection was – they started guessing thinking it was something to do with sanctions or with me beating my children.  But he goes on to explain “Saddam -> Doritos -> Beatings -> Fat Chicks.” (NOTE: I will not give this person the satisfaction of linking to his comment)

Does he have the right to place a picture that actually links to my site? I don’t know what to make of this, but it annoys me.

But why?

Is it because he thinks I am a fat chick? Or is it that he linked deceitfully to me – I don’t mind the link but to link through a picture? I think I am upset because it is a little bit of both. I am trying to be mature about this and be a good sport – but is this good blog etiquette? 

I am resigned to the fact that this person is an ignorant fool, and I shouldn’t be upset about it, but I can’t help but feel a bit annoyed.

Whatever, this particular post has directed over 170 views of my post in less than 12 hours. I am not sure about the mentality of those that read the other blog, but perhaps they may appreciate what they view on my site. That may not be such a bad thing – or is it??

I am Addicted to Advice Columns!

I read the paper every day.

Cover to Cover.

I even read Sunday’s Money and Careers Section as well as Cars! and Lifestyle. I may not know what I am digesting but I read it anyway.

I like to read the “how we met” stories especially in the Life section of Newsday. I enjoy solving the Sudoko puzzles as well – although I skip Monday and Tuesdays! They only rate * and ** respectively. I like Wednesday – Friday ***-*****; which get gradually harder to solve. I have serious problems with the six stars in a circle puzzle on Saturdays! At some point you have to start guessing, and I am not fond of that. (NOTE: I encourage my daughter to solve the Monday and Tuesday puzzles – good for the brain!)

I like to read the opinion letters in the editorial section. Although I must admit it is torture, as I disagree with most of what these morons have to say. But that is just my opinion.

What is particularly entertaining to me is the Advice Columns. I am amazed at what some people consider problems and am equally amazed that they have the gumption to write in! I find myself wondering if this is a form of a joke or are they this “troubled”. I know I should be giving examples of this – as any good writer would, but I just draw a blank at this time.

I was reading the paper today and I saw an interesting letter that I thought I might throw out there to anyone who happens to be reading my blog. So here it goes:

A mother (I believe) wrote in to say that her child was invited to the movies with a friend, so she gave him/her $10 just in case. Well it turns out that her child needed to pay for her ticket and any snacks she may have wanted. She continues to say that her son invites a friend out to dinner as a guest.  She pays for his tab (naturally). But the following day the boy comes over to pay back the money. The mother is upset and insists on not accepting that form of payback. She wants to know what is the protocol when inviting their children’s friends somewhere.

The advice columnist’s answer was a personal one – she said what she does.  If it is the movies, she pays the way. If the child has money (just in case) and insists on paying for snacks with their own money, she allows them to – otherwise she is prepared to treat!  She suggests that the mother of the boy had good intentions by wanting to pay back the parents but it was in a rude manner.  She should repay by reciprocation – as in treat her son to a dinner next time.

I agree – but does everyone else say?

My daughter was invited to go bowling, to the movies, etc. with others. First, I am not too keen on letting my daughter go anywhere with people I don’t especially know. I gave my daughter $20 when she went bowling – she came back with very minimal left-over. She bought snacks and tokens (to play games). It was expensive! The parents were bowling and let the two 11 year olds roam around in the other areas. I said that would be fine as long as they check in regularly with her parents and that they do not leave each other’s side. But that was when I dropped her off – had I known this beforehand I may have nicely rejected the offer.  But I could have had taken her home, but I allowed it as I think my daughter and this girl are responsible, however, I was uneasy with “others” around – as in I don’t trust anybody.

If I invite someone for company to the movies, I invite the family in this manner, “We are going to see the 8 PM showing of “—” would you guys like to meet us there. I knew you said you were anxious to see it and I was wondering if you were available this evening.” I think in that way, you are saying we pay our own way – they can decline or accept. Unless of course I state “my treat” but with movie tickets costing what they do – I would be nuts!  Now if I was the one who took the kids to the concession stand – I would reach in my pocket and pay for them.  And she can get next time!  But if I called and said, “Hi we are going to see the 8 PM showing of “—–” and Ericka would like to know if Bri can come along with us.” Even if she brought her own money to pay for her admission – I would say no. I have it. End. of. story. I invited – I am driving – I am paying. Ditto for mini-golf or any other form of entertainment.

Now I’d like to hear your opinion – should kids pay their own way?

Inquiring minds want to know. And if you find yourself in a situation with assuming the person is paying for your child and your child has no money – how would you feel about that and what would you do?

And for the very first time ever I’d like to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. —-!

OK – so I think the priest does that officially at the Church but the DJ says that as well after they introduce the wedding party and what a wedding party it was!

Not all members were at the reception (as they were young children), and I cannot name all or even tell you how many, but I can say one came all the way from Hawaii to stand up for the bride! Emma and Veronica looked beautiful – the color of the dress complimented them! I believe we can consider the color to be cantaloupe? pinkish something or other!

The bride-groom (sounds like he doesn’t know which to be!) had his two brothers stand up for him as best men. That was nice!

My parents were asked to bring up the gifts, but my mom got one extra special job!

But first, after the cocktail hour or so was up, the lights flickered to inform us to proceed to the next room. I grabbed that green martini that Kat gave up and headed to the main room.  I knew I was at Table #6 – hey Mike got the table named after him!  Us cousins were all together, except for the siblings of the groom.

WOW.

The room was beautiful, but I have one complaint – well two.  The dance floor was too small – who knew all those people would dance! And it was HOT! Perhaps others weren’t so hot, but I was drinking and dancing!

Our table was right by the dance floor! We all got situated. I got to sit next to my husband naturally(!) and Kat! – Lucky Kat!

The DJ  begins to make the introductions. HAH – Janine (my sister-in-law) and I are in the ladies room. How are we going to sneak in now? But we manage.  They already introduced my aunt and uncle and may I say my aunt looked absolutely stunning! They introduced the bride’s parents as well and were on to the wedding party. After all the introductions, they paused and directed our attention to the big screens on the wall as they started to play a slideshow of pictures of Jenn and Rob through the years.

Jenn, in my opinion changed a lot! So did Rob, he went from a slight little boy into a nice broad guy! Jenn, was adorable as a little girl, and is stunning as an adult. They look great then and now, but different! OK so back to the slideshow… My family can ooh and aahh over pictures of Jenn but they did not bring back memories as we have no idea what went on in her life other than the past 8 years. But when the pictures of Rob started – it all came back to us. We all laughed out loud and really appreciated the trip down memory lane.

Who remembers “Schtop begging Antonny!”

Then there was a picture of Kat and Rob – they were like twins, same age and they were inseparable getting into all sorts of trouble.  I saw Kat’s hair in pigtails and the memory of her not ever allowing me to play beautician came flooding back to me! And the clincher picture was of Rob as a teen, sleeping on the couch. It seems Rob is always sleeping on a couch at some point of every gathering!

After the show, they called up Aunt Joyce to say the blessings. I think they all think my mom is some sort of holy roller! Ok, she is nervous in front of crowds, she doesn’t know how to work it like Ant, my dad or even hey I will add myself into this mix! So she starts off low, we all tell her we can’t hear you – my heart breaks for her, because I know her heart is beating a million beats a minute. She finishes grace. And then they call the two best men up for their toast.

OMG!

They have top hats – white – and cigars! They are doing a skit.  I have no idea what they say! But it is hilarious. I never realized it took Emma and Gene 13 years to tie the knot. I knew it was long, but geez! I also had no idea it took Tom and Ver 10! So Rob and Jenn did OK with only 8. Ant joked that dial a bride promised delivery within the half hour – so he has them all beat!

I am trying hard to remember the last line because it was touching. It was something about eating, drinking and ahhhh I need help here. It was beautiful, so for all the laughs, it was also very moving as well. I love those guys!

The waitresses and waiters are coming over to take our orders – guess who our waitress is?! Yes – the cherry bimbo floozie. I drank so much, I really didn’t care until my husband was missing for quite some time! Thanks Mike (#6) for pointing that out to me!

Anyway, the entrees were prime rib (not filet mignon as I told the waitress I ordered!), some kind of chicken and salmon. Both hubby and I take the prime rib – he said if he knew I was getting that he would have ordered the salmon – a la taste each other’s meal type thing.  I offer to switch, but told him I thought he would have ordered the salmon anyway, and he says Nahh!

Kat and I admire how long the cucumber is that is wrapped around some greenery and other salad type incredients. I say something completely inappropriate and see my brother and sister’s faces and I realize “oh did I say that out loud!” Mike cracks up laughing and Erick just rolls his eyes! That’s me!

Kat is the first to realize (I think) that everyone can see her cleavage! She directs our attention to the ceiling. There is an enormous chandelier (don’t want to be responsible cleaning that bad boy) which is surrounded by a circular mirror – yes mirror.  I am wearing a high dress, so no cleavage is showing from me, but may I say there were plenty of cleavage to be seen – that is if you want to keep your head crocked up toward the ceiling the whole night! We have a nice laugh about that.

Immediately the DJ plays “We are family” to which Kat explains “it’s too soon!” I agree as I slurp down another martini! Kat is glad she had penne ala vodka during cocktail hour as there is no macaroni course, we had the salad and some sherbet with mint to cleanse our palates – it was good. Then our main course was served. Aunt Lena came by and gave most of us compliments for finishing our food and especially if we had our veggies!

Then we all danced – and danced. Can you believe I didn’t do the Electric Slide or the Cha-Cha slide. At least they didn’t play the Macarena! But I got up and danced a whole bunch.  Erick didn’t want to dance. I guess he figured one of us making a fool of ourselves was enough.  They only played 4 or 5 slow songs. I was in the ladies room for the men’s choice – so who is to say if he would have asked. But I asked him for the ladies’ choice and he just made a face, but he got up! And I didn’t step on his toes this time!   oops no I didn’t – I asked my dad for that dance! And he said YES! I didn’t step on his feet either.  I danced 2 slow songs with Erick – but it wasn’t the ladies’ choice – I’m a dummy!

We played a game where we had to pass the napkin around to everyone at the table until the music stopped. My brother got stuck with it! So did Aunt Lena (anyone say fixed?). My bro wasn’t too happy but Aunt Lena coaxed him into going on the dance floor anyway. They were table captains and their job was to get everyone on the dance floor for the Conga Line! Naturally, we all had to be obstinate and refuse! He was a good sport, but I got on line anyway!

Then it got ugly.

They played the Tarantella.  What a disaster. The DJ did not coach anyone. And we clearly had non-Italian attendees at this wedding.  I decided to spin my mother around anyway. Then we tried to force the crowd to do it correctly. By the time it got going, the song was over. AND THEY DIDN’T PLAY IT AGAIN! Oh and Ant #1 stepped on someone’s bracelet and brought it to someone else, but it ended up being Aunt Lena’s – she realized she was missing it about an hour later!  Then they played some other songs, but everyone started to sit down. So they decided to put on some 80’s hits! I danced in my seat.

Where did Tracy go?

I don’t think she was at the table much?

Then they introduced the fire show! OOH AAH.

Where is Erick?

Mike says: Where’s the waitress? (evil man)

I say that is it and storm out of the hall – to look for him! (NOTE: I did not think he was with the waitress, I knew he was with my brother-in-law – good God I don’t want to think what they could have been doing! – seriously I thought he would be interested in this presentation.) I could not find him. I go back in the room.  They have a fondue fountain! Goodness gracious!

The two missing men come back – Erick chows down on the 2 chocolate covered strawberries I got for him – as the crowd was out of control over these dessert tables! The desserts were amazing but I was just too stuffed from the cocktail hour and my prime rib! But it seemed as soon as they brought the dessert out, the tables were carted out just as quickly!

At one point Ant #1 takes hold of the mike and sings a song to Rob and Jenn. He sings along with Frank Sinatra – I love ya Ant, but don’t quit your day job. JK – But boy did he hit it with the second song. It was great – not sure the name of it, but he was strumming something and making gestures and Rob’s face was hysterical.  He certainly was enjoying the show, and so did everyone else! It was the best Ant has been. ENCORE! ENCORE!

The person’s birthday closest to the date gets to go home with the centerpiece. That would have been Ant – no one else wants to take it home. So I do! It looks nice in my living room! Thanks guys!

The evening was very enjoyable! I must say that is the first time I truly enjoyed a wedding in a very long time. The martinis may have helped but the company was just outstanding!

Laughs that need to be explained -

• hugging the tiled walls in the bathroom
• if…..I’d be a happy woman!
• Elaine…have you worked on a float before?
• I will pay you $$ to drive me back to the hotel – please let us in your car!
• If I was 20 years younger I would carry you – Paul, if I was 20 pounds lighter you may have been able to!
• A shrimp falling into my plate! Nice shot!
• Here taste! OOH that’s good!
• anybody have a pen – no a black pen! Hey thanks Alex!
• what’s with the full length mirrors everywhere?!
• take some Mexicans in your luggage on the way there – ok not politically correct but still funny!
• you’re going with them on the honeymoon? “don’t go knocking on their door!”
• What was going on with that picture at the end of the evening? Gene looked ferocious! It definitely looked like something from the Sopranos!

What a night – now look at the comments – and there better be comments! for additional information I missed. Also Kat, Alex and Mike need to fill us in on the after-party activities – like when did that shuttle come pick you guys up! Also, if Ant can tell us the last line of his speech we would all appreciate it!

Salute!

The Wedding Singer!

It was cousin Ant – aka #1

Stay tuned for more info – but right now enjoy reading about the cocktail hour!

Congratulations Rob and Jenn – The Cocktail Hour!

On August 26 my cousin married his girlfriend of 8 years!  Welcome to this crazy family Jenn!

After my meltdown over what to wear, a new problem arose.  How to be in 4 places at one time?  Unfortunately to help out with the situation, I had to forfeit seeing the actual ceremony – so I will leave it up to my other cousin’s comments to fill in on that aspect of the wedding.  I heard little Nicholas was adorable! I hope I get to see the video!

My son had to be at a mandatory fund raiser for football; my daughter was invited to her best friend’s party.  Everything was OK – my father-in-law was going to watch my kids and be there when Dan was dropped off at 2 and then he was going to pick my daughter up at 4.  My husband and I had to leave by 1 to get to the Church by 3. If we left any later we would be taking our chances.  My car windshield had a chip in it and we needed to fix it before any long trips.  We had an appointment that morning.  Everything was going fine until things started to unravel. Not entirely sure what happened but needless to say we couldn’t leave at 1 so we just hung out until 4.  No sense going at 2 and missing the ceremony and hanging around until the reception.

Surprisingly the GWB was clear and we got to the reception at 5:20.  One hour ahead of time, but they let us in anyway.  Can you believe there were others there!

I started the evening with a White Russian (Kahlua, vodka and milk) I love Kahlua! Erick and I were chatting; we snagged the table right next to one of the bars. This was the first time we got a table at a cocktail hour.  All you know how difficult it is to hold a plate, and a drink and try to figure out how you are going to eat the food. It is damn near impossible, so for us to find a table and near the bar, it was a dream come true! 

There were two young waitresses working. One was a bit upset that people were there early.  She stopped at the bar and seductively ate a cherry – you know the way, lifting her head up and raising her hand with the cherry dangling and lowering it to her lips. Yeah – bimbo! She wasn’t doing it for the sake of the bartender – he was old enough to be her grandfather and not that good-looking I might add. And do not tell me that is how she eats cherries at home!  My husband noticed.  She scored one!  Floozie. 

The ladies – uhm I mean waitresses then went to where all our name cards were and started to fill up glasses with drinks. I was not sure what they were making, but I was content with my drink.  My memory is fuzzy here, cause I am not sure if I was on my first or second drink at that time.  But look, here comes my brother and sister and their spouses.  We wave to them and they bring in these martinis. They are so bright and colorful! I am told the blue tastes like jello and the green is better.  I taste both. 

Oh look here comes Kat and Alex!  Aunt L and Uncle J is behind and so is mom and dad.  We all cram by the two tables we snagged!  Food is finally being brought out – well I say finally, but it is on time!  I am starving, so I jump right in there.  Only hot food? I was in such a mood for cheese and veggies.

I had some lobster ravioli, penne ala vodka, tortellini alfredo, fried calamari, sausage and broccoli rabe, chicken and mushrooms, geesh and other stuff, I can’t remember!  I decided to fill myself at the cocktail hour because seriously that is the best food.  The dinners are hit or miss!

Now I do not remember how many colorful drinks I had! Not more than 3.  Kat left her green one at our table while she was sucking down some raw clams oysters! She was drinking another green drink.  “Hey, you snooze you lose, that drink is now mine” I tell her.  I drink it! I was then introduced to White Chocolate Martinis.  Oh my goodness, these things are awesome!  I think I may have had 2 or 3.  Yes, you are reading this correctly, I am now on my #6 or #8 drink – I lost count! In one hour! I am giddy!

I go up for seconds because I think I need some absortion in my stomach for all this alcohol and I am just hungry and acting like a glutton!  I hear there is another room open.  WHAT?  I fill up one plate and head to the next room!

Here we are!

Cheese heaven!  My brother encourages me to try a California Roll. I never had sushi, so I go ahead.  I should have tried the spicy tuna, but I didn’t. There were shrimp, lobster, veggies, more raw fish, cheese and other goodies!  I grab some shrimp, lobster, carrots and a slice of blueberry cheese – at least that is what I think it is! I grab some strawberries too.

Conversation is good.  Food is delicious and the drinks are flowing! Erick is just having ginger ale and is taking it easy.  His stomach wasn’t feeling that great. I was feeling fine!

And then the lights flickered…

I am not fashionable!

I wear what I deem comfortable.

I wear what fits!

I make do with what is in my closet.

But then I have to get ready for a wedding!

A family wedding.

Long?

Short?

Tea-length?

Black?

Blue?

Something else?

How much do I put in the card?

What does that have to do with what to wear? It has nothing to do with it, but it adds to the stress!

So I refuse to buy anything new. I am trying to lose weight, why would I buy something that I would only wear once – hopefully.  Hmm.  I should have gone shopping, because here it is one night before the wedding and I am second-guessing my decision.  I always do this!

I have two dresses.  A full length gown that touches the floor when I walk.  It has crinoline under it making the dress come out like Belle’s in Beauty and the Beast. It is my favorite color lavender. It is halter top with sequence on it.  My boobs look tremendous in them. I don’t need a bra and I have shoes that work well with it.  The problem is my husband says I look like a bridesmaid wannabe.  He says that with this dress I look like I am in the wedding party and with my other dress I look like I am a guest.  I decide on dress #2 because you want your husband’s support.

Bull shit.

Dress #2 is sleeveless.  It is form-fitting and is navy blue with sparkles (that get everywhere).  I had no shoes to match nor did I have a purse to carry.  It is short. On one side it is knee length and the other side it gradually gets longer to calf length.  It is not handkerchief bottom, not really.  The dress is high to the neck.  I was happy with my decision until tonight.  I went shopping this afternoon and got silver sandals and a silver handbag.  I bought a nice bracelet and earrings to match (silver and diamond-ish [as in not real])

So tonight I tell my mom I decided on the short dress and she says “oh” like as in why the hell did you decide that?  Hence the second-guessing myself.

I realize my husband probably doesn’t want everyone focusing their attention on a certain area of my body that this gown accentuates.  That’s all I have. That’s the only reason why I think he told me to go with #2 unless his reason is legit!

I am not comfortable with my weight, but I think I have nice legs. If I wore the lavender gown, it hides my best asset, but brings out (literally) my second best!  I just hope I put this blue dress on and I am pleased with how I look.  The more I think of it, the more I realize there will never be another time I can wear the lavender gown. I had purchased it last year thinking I would wear it for this occasion along with the one I purchased it for – justifying my purchase at the time.  But I forgot this until now!

I was too concerned that I looked too bridesmaidish that I didn’t bother taking it to the cleaners or anything. I could have asked them to cut out the crinoline, and see how it looked but it is too late now.  Why did I listen to my husband?

And why can’t I make a fashion decision on my own!  AGGHHH

Countdown to Labor Day – and boy will we labor!

Well some of us will labor and the others will socialize!

That is right – 8 more days to the festivities begin, well 2 if we are talking the wedding! The two much anticipated events of the year – back to back!

“R” is finally taking the leap into marriage! Can anyone talk him out of it – before it is too late? Just kidding! We love “J”

And then the week after!  Ahhh….

T O M A T O    S A U C E    W E E K E N D

What can I say about this!

I will copy Ant’s comment here:

“Tomato sauce weekend is a tradition carried over from Italy to America by my late Grandmother who is my mom (Aunt F) and my Aunt L and Big Uncle J;s mom. She used to make the sauce in her home town of Castelpetroso, Italy when she was a girl. When she came over to America in 1957, she simply picked up where she left off in Italy. It became an annual event either before or on Labor day weekend. The brother and two sisters would come over to her house in Brooklyn, (and later Staten Island) to make about 400 bottles (old Coke, 7-up, Hires then later 1 quart mason jars) of sauce which would feed 4 families every Sunday for the year. It became quite a process as I remember my Grandfather using an old cap machine to cap the bottles before they were boiled.

The process starts out with about 35 to 40 bushels of plump jersey tomatos which are then washed and inspected before boiled. They are them passed through a tomato machine which separates the skins from the pulp. The pulp (sauce) is then poured into a large 5 gallon vat, salted, then using ladles and funnels, poured into the quart mason jars that already have two pieces of basil in them. the jars are then boiled to seal them, then the cool off and are placed in the mason jar cases. Afterwards, they are divvied up amongst the family.

It is a ton of fun and a great way to get together instead of the usual wedding or funeral. That’s why I love the picnic as that’s another way to get together.”

Beautifully said Ant.

And the cousins decided we would blog about this event.

So this is the pre-weekend blog – a bit of reminiscing as well. Here are a few tidbits of memories along the way:

Ant comments: “I used to wonder why Grandma had big arms – she had to really shake that sauce out of the old soda bottles! (My mom and Aunt L too!)”

Ok Lil Ant – who is not so little prefers to call them “toned arms”! As a women I would have to say I like that term better as well!
 

Big Ant’s memories: 

1. I remember getting the bottle caps on Mulberry street in NYC as they were the only ones that had them.
2. I remember the old tomato machine with the washing machine motor.
3. I remember Sunday dinner using the tomatoes that were salvaged, and what a sauce!
4. I remember the Jerry Lewis telethon was always on!  
5. I remember the tomatoes being laid out in the basement of Brooklyn Ave.
6. I remember Grandpa capping the bottles (and taking breaks for some wine).

MY brother Ant, added this afterward:

“I do remember always making runs the day we made sauce to Riemann’s (spelling) to buy more jars because Evangeline or someone would give out their jars and not get them back or would make more when they still had 10 bushels full in their basement.  Which leads me to the Christmas tree shop has jars with the lids and rings for .89 a piece.  Not sure if that is a good price or if we need any, but Janine and I noticed that during our weekend shopping.  Let me know if we need any.”

Then I responded – all this through emails!:

“This is too funny -

and yes I remember some of the things Ant #1 wrote about – especially the darn telethon! I remember hating it yet watching it all the time! 

I also remember being jealous of Kat because she got to push the skins with the wooden spoon and I didn’t!  I was always sent upstairs because it was too crowded – NO FAIR – then I went off to college and everything changed!

Now we had Irish/PuertoRican neighbors (who were like family) helping out – which I couldn’t understand because it was an Italian thing (more jealousy!) - but hey – that weekend we were all Italian!!!!!  Loved the company, but it squeezed me out again, not to mention I had a tow-along (aka Dan) with me!  So happy they are older now!

I am looking forward to going to Aunt F’s but I still don’t understand why we can’t still use the neighbor’s yard?”

 A little aside here: the neighbor’s moved. We used to do tomatoes down in the basement and it got HOT down there.  So we decided to move it outdoors and then it went to the neighbor’s yard.  But they moved – Ant didn’t get the joke at first that I said too bad we should still do it there! Could you picture the new neighbor’s faces when we just show up at 5 AM setting up our crap! That would be priceless!

Ant says: “You know, I do remember the fights about filling jars, who was “up at bat”, etc”  {We used a bat to mash the tomatoes into the machine – that was fun too – and there IS an art to it!}

#6 wonders: “Did this blog crap start yet?”

Ahh leave it to him to ask in such a manner!

Ant jokes back: Leave it to Michael to call it crap!  That’s it! No Sauce for you!  (ala Soup Nazi!)

My brother is trying to follow along: I think you are all talking a different language.  Just let me know when I should start bogging and where!

Aunt L adds her own bit of commentary!: May I just say that I hope you all put this same kind of energy into the actual work of Tomato Sauce Weekend!

And to bring it to date Ant retorts: What?  You want us to do actual manual labor?   When I see this manual labor guy, I’m gonna sock him! {But he was talking about the fact that I told them they should write a post and not just comments!}

So here we are – let more memories start rolling in – the blog has begun!

How many of us want to hear my dad play the accordion???? I used to love hearing him play! I wanted to take lessons and he was aghast! Ladies don’t play that thing!
 

My Kitchen Renovations

Guess what I have been up to! I have not posted in a long time and there have been good reasons for that!  My son and husband went on their third camping trip of the season sometime last week.  I was speaking with my mother-in-law at her home on Sunday (the day they left).  She has been stir crazy suffering from cabin fever ever since her hysterectomy surgery 4 weeks prior.  I was discussing with her all the things I wanted to do this week.  She advised me to make a list and she will come out on Monday – because she needs to get out. She jokingly (but seriously) said she will come bright and early and hold me accountable to my list!

Sure enough bright and early – well for me! – on Monday afternoon she and my father-in-law came by.  They were surprised I actually wrote a list.  Even though my husband and I discussed redo-ing our entire house and need to do it soon, especially since my oven conked out on me, I had paint the cabinets on my to-do wish list. They were brown cabinets that were extremely depressing to look at. We had white floral wallpaper with wedgewood blue stripes going down on two walls in the kitchen.  We had replaced our picture window on one wall and I painted it a wedgewood blue to match the stripes from the wallpaper. We have blue indoor/outdoor carpeting and the other walls and ceiling needed a desperate paint job.  We decided to start this project!

My mother-in-law called her friend whose son is a painter and who just finished painting their cabinets.  He suggested the paints to use.  I went shopping and we got to work. Monday we primed the cabinets. It took 2-3 coats to hide the brown. We ended late. Tuesday we started late again – close to 5 PM!  I had a doctor’s appointment at noon, so I couldn’t have started earlier. We also need to wait for my brother-in-law to come move the china cabinet and refrigerator so that we can paint.  He decided to stay and help out.  I cut in and he rolled the paint.  We chose Grecian Green for the walls. That was Tuesday. Here is what the walls look like:

                

My refrigerator was cluttered with magnets and papers, it looks so great without it all!

On Wednesday, my daughter and I took a break and went to the beach. I felt like I had a clear head doing that, but once I was there, I was so relaxed.  I love the beach – absolutely love hearing the waves crashing against the shore and just looking at the beautiful scenery.  I am at home on the water! So it was a nice break from the tension and fumes of paint!  We stayed until 6 PM! I had to rush home for a 7PM meeting which by the way was canceled.  I didn’t get started on the kitchen until well after 8.  I went over the spots we missed.  I cut in nicely, but my brother-in-law hit the ceiling with the roller so I had to patch up some of the marks. I fixed my trim work as well. I cleaned my china cabinet with newspaper and glass cleaner and it looks great – streak free!  I cleaned the contents and arranged them by category!

 

Thursday, my in-laws are back to help.  I need to say that on Tuesday when I put the first stroke of paint on the walls, they thought I was going to have a melt down.  I wanted a subtle look but saw that it was darker than I expected. But after a while and realizing I am not turning back now nor am I wasting paint, I continued on.  Needless to say, I am now pleased with my decision.  I love the way my frames look against the walls.  You cannot tell much but the matte on the pictures are a perfect match for the walls.

So Thursday was paint the cabinets day! MY daughter helped all week long but this day she concentrated on her room, as her father was hoping he would come home to a spotless house – little did he know!  My first reaction to the cabinets was that they were not glossy enough.  But taking into consideration how dark they were and the material they were, the cabinets looked great.  We needed only one coat of paint. We were done! 

Friday, I spent the day shopping for accessories.  I bought mini-blinds and a new clock and some tablecloths. I went to Home Depot and bought new handles for my cabinets. I forgot to get some latches to put on my large cabinets to help them stay closed. My mother-in-law was the only one to come out on Friday so we met at a local pizzeria that serves the best food!  I treated as thanks.  We were so full, we ended up packing 1/2-2/3 of our food to go.  We got home around 5 and got to work.  It was a lot harder than I expected. I had no electric tools so I had to mount the blinds myself. It was tough! The handles didn’t go through some of the cabinets, so I had to go to the hardware store to get more (longer) screws. (even though my husband could open up his own store with the amt. he has! – he just didn’t have the ones I needed – naturally!)

I finally got the finishing touches done. Here is the results of that end of the kitchen:

 

I am very pleased with the outcome overall.

I still want to stencil some grapes on the wall on top of my cabinets. I was at a home show and saw these scratch-on art and I bought them. A part of me wants to wait until I do my kitchen permanently, but another part wants to do it now!

So what was my husbands reaction to my home improvement job?  He walked in while I was vacuuming and I was slightly disappointed because I wanted everything in order – but they arrived an hour ahead of schedule. I shut the vacuum off and I looked up. He had a grin from ear to ear and my son squinted and said how bright it was! (A complaint we always had was how dark the kitchen was!)

He was very pleased yet shocked that I did it myself – well that is without his help! I told him about everyone’s help especially his daughter’s and he was extremely proud. He said as long as I didn’t have another guy come in (as in pay someone) he didn’t mind what I did.  So I told him, the panelling in the hallway goes next!

Help Me, Kat!

What a day Friday was.

So much conflict!

So much drama – OK not on Friday but in this post!

Let me start off from the beginning – a good place to start!

I have been trying to get together with my sister, mother and rest of my family all week. They were supposed to come over on Thursday to go to a Butterfly museum and spend the day.  Of course, glitches pop up! On Tuesday, my 6 year old niece calls me and wonders if Wednesday would be better. I tell them no – because follow me here – my daughter has a game scheduled for 5, my son has practice from 3:30 – 8 and I had a meeting at 7.  Since they live 70 miles away, it would make no sense for them to make the trip for a few hours.  Thursday was no good for my sister since her son’s baseball team was scheduled for an 8 PM game that evening. If they spent the day here, he would be too exhausted to play his game in the evening – besides traffic would be murder at that time.

Wednesday would have been good – Dan’s lacrosse practice was xld for 3:30 but he still had football practice 6-8. My daughter’s game was xld due to the extreme heat. My meeting was canceled due to unexplained circumstances.

Thursday they could have come over! My nephew’s game was never scheduled for Thursday – an error on my sister’s part – it is for Friday at 6! My daughter had a game make-up at 5 on Thursday – which actually turned out to be 6 but that is a whole other story not worth getting into!

But onto Friday – my dilemma was my daughter had a game rescheduled for Friday at 6! I already told my family I would go to them! My parents, and brother’s family were going to Florida on Saturday.  They can’t come to me, because of my nephew’s game and it is the last day to get last minute things together (I completely understand and agree).  But what about my daughter’s game – do I come home early? After seeing the fiasco from Thursday’s game and since I already told the coach that if it was scheduled on Friday, my daughter won’t make it, I was not upset to fore-go the game. Neither was my daughter.

So I drive to Staten Island! I go straight to visit my aunt in the nursing home.  I scream and yell – because once I am behind the wheel a whole other me takes over.  I hate that I cannot find a parking spot. I finally find one around the corner and have to walk to the home. (I could use exercise, so that is not problem – finding a spot less than a mile away seemed to be one!)

My aunt thinks my son is going off to college – I roll my eyes – but hell she is 96 years old and my son is very tall, so let her think that. But we correct her. My mother shows up a short time later with my twin niece and nephew.  We stay a bit and leave. My daughter goes with my mom and the kids. My son stays with me. Forgetting the roads around there – (defend myself: I got my license at 17 – went to college at 18 – came home for summer and holidays, but after college move to Long Island) and they get upset with me if I forget what road leads where! I didn’t do much “cruising around” to learn them in the first place.  OK – enough – I find my parent’s house!

My dad is there. We greet. My mom finally arrives with Doughnuts – I sigh because I am trying to lose weight but the temptations that are put in front of me every time I visit is unbelievable!  I have no idea what we do for the next few hours. Oh wait, we eat lunch and my sister-in-law comes by with her two girls.  My sister gets back from her mattress delivery – she is excited that things are moving along nicely at her house.

At 6 we go to my nephew’s game.  MY MOTHER GETS LOST! Hello? And you bitch to me? She is looking for a crossroad – so I presume.  I inform her that the two roads run parallel to each other and not perpendicular.  She screams she knows.  So how can the park be on those two blocks – as she also knows it isn’t between them either! Ok after driving in circles we find the park.  (Note: there is no bleacher space to sit – so we stand).

My nephew didn’t do too bad – he hit the ball and he tried to field, but it is a bunch of 6 year old boys. It was cute – from what I could see, as the standing room only was bunched together as well!

I see two girls I recognize from grade school – some 20 odd years ago.  I am 50 pounds heavier, didn’t have my pedicure done yet and they were pretty snooty from what I remembered, so I am thinking “GrEAT!”  My sister is pretty friendly with them as their sons are on same team.  I see another woman I recognize – as she hadn’t changed a bit. I ask my sister who she is and she snaps, “I don’t know”.  Hmm can you find out from Christine?  NO

So after the game, I go up to Christine and ask who the girl was.  She says her name Donna so and so. I don’t recognize the name but she said she did go to same grammar school and high school as I (2 years behind me). Christine went on to the public high school.  I tell her I am bad with names but good with faces. She tells me she is bad with everything! She is 2 years younger than I and her sister is a year older than I. She said her sister and she were trying to figure out who I was since I did look familiar – I thought the fact that I was standing near my sister and talking to her children, they would assume who I was – apparently not!

Fast forward to leaving!  My mother had parked in a no parking spot – I informed her and she couldn’t care less.  But anyway she backs out of the spot and proceeds down the road a bit, but there are cars parked on both sides so it makes it hard for us to go anywhere. I see Gina (Christine’s sister) driving and she motions something. I think she is waving after realizing finally who I am. I smile and wave back!

Duh

My mother is driving down a one-way street! I realize she was not waving, she was warning – and probably thinking “dumb-a$$”!

I inform my mother and she laughs! LAUGHS! She pulls back in her spot and reverses the direction to now go the legal way! She then does something else I can’t quite recall but it prompts me to recite the “Our Father”. She slaps me on the arm and tells me to knock it off! (I was serious!)

She then starts harping on the fact that my uncle is dating again and my son agrees that he thinks it is too soon after my aunt’s death too – (18 months).  I shake my head and say that I think he needs companionship and I don’t think it is meant as any disrespect towards his wife or her family (my mom).  I also mention that I respect the fact that he called my mom and informed her personally instead of having her find out from a stranger or accidentally meeting up with them.

We continue discussing while having near misses as my mother is a horrible driver. (my opinion)

We pass my cousin’s house! Hey look Uncle Joe is out – my mother decides to beep like a mad-woman. I am ready to jump out the door – to save my life and my sanity!  Kat is opening her front door – I push my face to the window and mouth:

“Help me, help me”!

Not sure if she recognized what I was saying or if she just thought I was being goofy for she smiled in a laughing way and waved.  

We made it safely to my mom’s house!

We had pizza.

And I drove home around 11 PM.

It was a long day!