Birthday Celebrations

I found this on Imgur this morning and it perfectly described my night.  I had things to think about and laid awake for quite a while.  We are taking off for CA next week, for Caшa, Лука, and DD1's birthdays.  They are a day apart and Caшa shares the day with his Mama. We haven't been able to celebrate with them since moving to MO.  There is still so much to do to get ready.

At Christmas, we were both going to see the kids for Christmas, because we think it is important for the boys to celebrate our traditions too. I ended up flying to CA without Mr BC, since they were going to be in the process  of moving into their new lovely house.  Mr BC loves Christmas and would be sad that the usual Christmas goings on would be neglected.....as many were.  I left him behind to celebrate with DD2.  It was a good idea since there was so much work to do that Christmas afternoon was spent cleaning the old house so they could get their deposit back. Mr BC would have certainly complained about that.  Christmas comes every year so we will be back next year.

Addis Ababa courtesy of Flickr

The boys are lucky in that, SIL celebrates Orthodox Christmas as well in January, and this year they traveled to their cousin's home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit and celebrate.  The boys are well traveled and since SIL's cousin has been transferred to Africa for his job (he heads a humanitarian aid program for Ethiopia), they decided to make the trip for Orthodox celebration. The whole Serbian family was going to be there. The plans were made well before they found the perfect house in the Santa Barbara area, and since they had the tickets, they decided to go on this trip anyway 3 days after Christmas and the move.  This of course meant that we had to work fast which made the whole moving process even more difficult. I can't wait to hear more about the boys trip and see their pictures. Лука got a camera for Christmas

A Seedy Chat-124

http://www.everydayruralty.com/

1.  How many seed catalogs have arrived at you home? 

I don't plant anything, so I don't receive seed catalogs....I don't really get any type of catalog any more since I order most things online.

2.  Will you be learning to do something new this year?  

Well, I hope so....I can't think of anything right off hand....Maybe I should learn to plant things. 
3.  How many pair of boot do you own?(This can include casual, dressy, hiking, farm, riding, snow, or any other kind of boot.) 

I have two pair of snow boots and I often wear Mr BC Wellies when I am planting crops :<).  I am not a big fan of boots except in winter.....I am a shoe free type of person. 

4.  Valentine's Day is just around the corner. There are decorations in the stores. Do you have anything planned for Valentine's Day? 
No I don't decorate for Valentine's Day, We will probably forget the day until it comes and then I will probably pat Mr BC's head and give him a kiss.
5.  Please tell me your favorite breeds of dogs. If you don't like dogs, tell me something about a favorite animal. (Please. :) 
I am fond of Corgis they are usually real clowns. Our corgi's cuteness comes from her neuroses. She makes us laugh every day.  We also have a sweet mix, who we rescued.  I love to read about rescued animals who find their forever homes.

The Fast Dozen-Sunday Stealing

1. What is the last book that you passed on to someone else to read? I read a Kindle so I can only pass books to Mr BC. I passed along  Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog. It was a great book about a fantastic dog and about dogs in general. You will laugh, you will cry.

2. The one song you secretly or not so secretly want to sing at karaoke? Probably something by Abba, I know the words to most already.

3. If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what would it be? Suzanne! My dad didn't like it and mom did.  I was disappointed when I heard the story.  I like the name.

4. What do you wish your administrator or boss would notice? I don't have one anymore....but I did like it when they would recognize good work, which they did often.

  
5. What is your biggest pet peeve? Bad grammar.... It will only get worse with social networking. 

6. What holds you back in pursuing your biggest dream? Probably money.  I don't have a lot of big dreams, but one would be, to spend what time I have left traveling and learning.

7. Why do you think you are a lovable person? I try to be a caring, helpful person.  I would say I lean toward self-sacrificing too much. I hope that is seen more as lovable and less like...... being walked all over.

8. If every day had an extra hour in it, what would you do with it? I would use it to cook a wonderful dinner.  Dinner sneaks up on me too easily.

9. The last song you turned up in your car or house was? See question 2, I would have wanted to sing along.

10. What is a secret talent you may have? My secret hidden talents? Hmmm.  I did find out when DD1 got married, that I had the makings for a floral designer. Keeping the expenses down she wanted us to do the flowers.So the  night before the wedding, found Mr BC and I making the table centerpieces.  We got lots of compliments.

11. Your favorite thing to do outside when it's not too cold out in the winter? Walk the dogs...It is a little thing but they love it so much. They get so excited. We have been house bound for quite a few weeks.  The weather will be better so we will do it every day next week.

12. How do you respond if someone asks you an inappropriate or nosy question? "Why would you want to know that?" It really works if you say it right.

http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/

Good Neighbors-Saturday 9

Saturday 9: That's My Kind of Night

Unfamiliar (I am) with this week's song? Hear it here. 

1) In this song, our hero offers to take his girl down to the river to catch a catfish dinner. What is your favorite seafood? 
I like all kinds of seafood, but shrimp is my favorite.

2) Luke Bryan went to Georgia State University, home of the Panthers. What was your school mascot? The Lions, Mr BC's too.

3) Have you ever tried acupuncture? 
No but I would like to try it for my aching joints.

4) Just last night, Crazy Sam threw away a jar of Miracle Whip because it expired in September 2013. Is your refrigerator neat and organized? Or is it a disaster area, like Sam's?  
Mine is in good shape.  I really go thru it during the Holidays.....mainly to make room for new stuff.  

5) Which is more important to you -- saving time or saving money? Saving money, I seem to have enough of time now that I am retired.

6) Sam's next door neighbor is named Jim. He's retired, smokes a pipe and drives a red Corolla. Tell us about one of your neighbors. 
My next door neighbor is DD2 who lives across the alley.  She drives a green beetle and comes over to do her laundry once a week.  Across the street is my husband's sister and brother in law.  So it is family all around.

7) What's the most recent magazine you flipped through? 
Good Housekeeping, I have a subscription and get it every month.

8)  Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right now? 
Oh yes, It has been snowing regularly and it is very dirty. We are going to have some sunshine days in the 40's and 50's so maybe it will get clean. We will have to do it before we drive out to CA, fMr BC did not go with me for Christmas/move so we are going for the grandson's and DD1's birthday in Feb.

9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning? 
No I don't set an alarm much, and we actually slept until 7am this morning.

http://samanthasaturday9.blogspot.com/

  

Too Cold on the Porch Today

1. How much baking did you do before and after Christmas? Do you get more inspired to bake when the temps are cooler? I don't bake much anymore, no kids close by to do cookies and breads.....and they just aren't good for Mr BC and I.  
2. Do you have any food intolerance or allergies?  I am lactose intolerant and have an allergy to penicillin.  I don't want to get stung by a bee either. 
3. When was the last time you were in a restaurant? I can't remember.  It is usually when we are travelling....Oh, it was in November for DD2's birthday. We are Mexican restaurant, snobs.  MO does not do Mexican restaurant very well. We keep trying to find authentic.  So far, NOPE.
4. What's your favorite accent(speech)? I would guess an accent from Great Britain, especially Scottish.  The  new Dr Who is Scottish. 
5. My favorite gift this Christmas is a big, thick, fluffy pink scarf DD1 gave me. It is perfect for this dangerous cold we are getting, across the country.  I actually wear it inside the house. 

Believe-Saturday 9

1) In 1998, Cher became the oldest woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with "Believe." She was 52 at the time. At what age do you think you did hit/will hit your prime? 
I believe I hit my prime in my early 40's.  I was very happy with everything I was doing and did it well. I was in top form professionally.

2) Cher is as well known for her outrageous outfits as for her singing. What's the latest piece of clothing you added to your wardrobe?  
I went to Ross to get 2 short sleeved tops.  All I had taken with me were long sleeves and it was warm enough for short sleeves. Of course I also bought a pair of shoes. Christmas vacation a good reason to shop.

3) Cher credits her unique looks to her diverse ethnicity. Her father was Armenian and her mom is English/German/Cherokee. From where did your ancestors come? Mainly the British Isles.
My fraternal grandmother has French Huguenot roots. Every one on both sides came from Oklahoma. 

4) When she was a little girl, Cher produced and starred in a schoolyard production of Oklahoma. Were you involved in drama or theater in school? 
No not really...DD2 is the actress/singer in the family.  She has a double degree in theater and psychology.

5) Cher is open about her plastic surgery, speaking freely about having had her breasts 'done', her nose bobbed and her teeth straightened. If you could change one physical feature about yourself, which would it be? And what would you never change, under any circumstances? 
I would have liked a breast reduction when I was younger....though age has done the trick, now that I am a senior citizen.  I would never mess with my eyes or my smile.

6) There's a stubborn rumor, often denied, that Cher had a rib removed so that she could maintain her long and lean silhouette. What's the most outrageous thing anyone has said of you? 
That I might be lazy. When I have to....like after Christmas in Santa Barbara...I work hard.  But I am somewhat work adverse and will look for easier ways to do things.

7) When she was a kid, Cher practiced her autograph. Do you have a clear, legible signature? Or is it more of a scrawl? 
I had a legible signature until I went to work in a job where signing and initialing my name at the end of the day.....many times....straight lined the last part of my name. 

8) Cher asks, "Do you believe in life after love?" Crazy Sam's question is easier and less profound: Do you believe in luck? Not really....I don't believe in fate either or predestination.  I believe we make our own luck. Sometimes good things and bad happen to people.

9) Did you make any resolutions for 2014? 
No, however Mr BC and my WORD for 2014 is Move more.