SUE'S YEAR IN REVIEW.....My Secrets To Keeping Young! (READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)

ENCOURAGED TO DO A POST ON MY ANTICS IN 2015
AFTER SEEING MY GOOD FRIEND LINDA'S BLOG
"A LA CARTE"
THIS TURNED OUT TO BE MORE OF A SMALL BOOK INSTEAD OF A
BLOG POST....
2014 ENDED WITH ME LOVING EVERY MINUTE SPENT WITH OUR
BELOVED MISS B.....
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BEGINNING OF
2015!!

YOU KNOW YOUR IN NEW YORK CITY FOR NEW YEARS EVE WHEN A CHILD
CAN WEAR A FEATHER ON HER HEAD
AND DINE AT THE "FOUR SEASONS".....
THE YEAR WAS OFF TO A GOOD START...
HAPPY THINGS WERE ABOUT TO HAPPEN....

BACK AT HOME IN KENNESAW....
WE BEGAN 2015 WITH "MISS KITTY"
THE HOMELESS CAT THAT HIT THE LOTTERY WHEN
SHE SHOWED UP ON OUR DOORSTEP...
ENJOYING HER NEW LIFE WITH THE
ADIVARI'S....
FIRST LESSON ON STAYING YOUNG AND ENJOYING
YOURSELF...
BE OPEN TO NEW THINGS.......
I ALWAYS HATED CATS....TRULY HATED THEM...
I OPENED MY HOME AND MY HEART TO THIS FUR BALL
AND SHE HAS GIVEN US NOTHING BUT LOVE...

TRY NEW THINGS BUT DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE LOOKING LIKE THIS!!
IN PREPARATION FOR A PARTY WHERE WE ALL HAD TO DRESS UP
AS OUR FAVORITE BARBIE DOLL...
I DISCOVERED I WAS NOT MEANT TO BE A BLOND...

HANG AROUND WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CRAZIER THEN YOU ARE...
ME AND JOYCE ENJOYED A LITTLE TRIP TO
EDDIE'S TRICK SHOP WHERE SHE HAD NO HESITATION
TRYING ON THIS HAT WITH GOGGLES...

OUR ANNUAL PARTY AT JOYCE'S HOUSE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
WITH EVERY BARBIE DOLL IMAGINABLE...
BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR BARBIE
HOT FLASH BARBIE
HIPPIE BARBIE
AND
FRENCH BARBIE....

I WAS SIMPLY THE ORIGINAL.....
BORING IN COMPARISON TO...

ROSE AS "HOT FLASH" BARBIE....

A VALENTINES CAKE!!
I ENJOYED ALL OF 2015 BAKING.....
SOME MORNINGS THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I GET TO THE
KITCHEN IS TURN ON THE OVEN...

I CAN BAKE LATE IN TO THE EVENING TOO.....
RETIRED SINCE THE 90'S I NEVER EVER AM BORED....
THERE ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY...
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF NO LONGER WORKING AND YOUR WORRIED
ABOUT WHAT YOUR GOING TO DO ALL DAY.....NO WORRIES...
#1.....SLEEP LATE....NOON IS NOW CONSIDERED EARLY...
#2....DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!

MARCH FOUND US HAVING A BLIZZARD HERE IN GEORGIA....
THIS IS GEORGIA'S IDEA OF A SNOW STORM...
NOBODY LEAVES THEIR HOUSES AND THE
GROCERY STORES ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT OF
BREAD AND MILK...
WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH JUST BREAD AND MILK....
I HAVE NO IDEA...
ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF BEING OLD...
JUST STAY INSIDE UNTIL IT MELTS...
HERE IN GEORGIA THAT HAPPENS BY ABOUT 2:00 P.M.

WITH COLD WEATHER FINDS ME SPENDING EVEN MORE TIME
IN THE KITCHEN....
YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DO THAT'S FUN AND SIMPLE...
THIS WILL IMPRESS ANYONE....
A SIMPLE PILLSBURY PIE CRUST
(THE KIND YOU FIND IN THE REFRIGERATED SECTION)
ONE CAN OF PIE CHERRIES....AN EGG WASH AND SOME
SLICED ALMONDS AND SANDING SUGAR...
YOU WILL FEEL LIKE JULIA CHILD'S..
IF YOU DON'T BAKE...IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START!

NEVER FROWN UPON GETTING YOUR PICTURE
TAKEN IN PUBLIC....
IF PEOPLE STOP AND STARE JUST SAY HELLO OR WAVE...
THEY WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE...
I GO TO IKEA ABOUT ONCE A MONTH...
ALWAYS A FUN TRIP.... 

THE KIDS TOOK OFF FOR A LONG WEEKEND IN LONDON
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE DAUGHTER LOOKING SO HAPPY....
THIS IS BEGINNING TO TURN IN TO A WONDERFUL
RELATIONSHIP.....
SHE'S EVEN ADORABLE IN A WOOL SKI HAT...

AND WHILE THEY WERE OFF TRAVELING THE WORLD....
I WAS BACK IN KENNESAW BAKING BREAD... 

APRIL FOUND ME AT ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE EVENTS HERE
IN MARIETTA....THE TWICE YEARLY "FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY"
BOOK SALE....
WHERE I GO EVERY YEAR AND I MANAGE TO COME HOME
WITH THE SAME BOOKS I ALREADY HAVE....
AS I GET OLDER IT GETS WORSE....

YOU THINK I WOULD COME WITH A LIST OF EITHER WHAT I NEED
OR WHAT I ALREADY HAVE....
BAD MEMORY....ONE OF THE NOT SO GOOD THINGS ABOUT
GETTING OLDER...
BUT NOT TO WORRY I JUST LAUGH IT OFF...
AND PASS ON THE SPARES TO A FRIEND...

ALWAYS A SURPRISE TO GET A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL FROM
NUNZIE UP IN THE MOTHERLAND.....
IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING FUN...
SURPRISE A FRIEND WHO LIVES AFAR WITH A LITTLE GIFT
EVERYBODY  LOVES TO GET A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FOR NO REASON....
JUST TO SAY "I'M THINKING ABOUT YOU" 

EVERY MORNING IN 2015 STARTED THIS WAY....
THE BOSS ALWAYS HAS TO HAVE HIS TOMATOES...
I SWEAR THAT IS WHY HE IS AS HEALTHY AS HE IS...
SOMETIMES I MAKE BLUEBERRY WAFFLES OR
CORNED BEEF HASH...BUT MOSTLY
EGGS AND POTATOES....
I PRIDE MYSELF ON
"FOOD PRESENTATION"... 

AS THE YEAR WENT ON I FOUND MYSELF IN ASHVILLE N.C.
WITH THE CRAZY BUNCH...
YOU GOTTA LOVE A GROUP OF GROWN WOMEN WHO
AREN'T THE LEAST BIT EMBARRASSED TO WALK AROUND
TOWN WITH ME LOOKING LIKE ONE OF THE
"HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS".... 

IN FACT WHEN I MAKE AN ASS OUT OF MYSELF....
THEY ARE RIGHT THERE TO PHOTOGRAPH IT...
HERE I AM IN THE LOBBY OF THE HAMPTON INN WHERE I
SPILLED THE ENTIRE COOLER FILLED WITH ICE...
IF I WAS WITH THE HUSBAND HIS CURSING AT ME WOULD HAVE HAD US
THROWN OUT OF THE PLACE!!
I SO LOVED THAT THEY LOVE ME AND WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT
EMBARRASSED BY MY BLUNDER... 

AND HERE THEY ARE.....
ROSE...CHERI....LINDA AND JOYCE....
OR AS ROSE NAMED US....
"THE HOT MESS EXPRESS"
IT WAS ST. PATRICKS DAY SO OF COURSE I HAD TO
PROVIDE THE LADIES WITH GREEN BOAS...

NOTHING SAYS FUN LIKE A QUICK LITTLE
GETAWAY WITH THE GIRLS...
WE DROVE UP TO ASHEVILLE N.C.
TO SEE THE DOWNTOWN ABBEY
COSTUME EXHIBIT
AND MANAGED NOT TO GET ARRESTED FOR TAKING
PICTURES THAT WEREN'T ALLOWED OR TRYING ON ONE OF THOSE
GORGEOUS HATS THEY WEAR ON THE SHOW...
WE HAD A BALL...

EASTER TIME FOUND THE GIRLS VISITING FROM N.Y.
MISS B WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING HER TEETH....
AND DAUGHTER WAS JUST AS CUTE AS EVER..
I HATED TO SEE THEM LEAVE...

I ALWAYS TAKE B FOR A HAIRCUT WHEN SHE'S HERE AND
THEN WE HIT UP CHUCK E. CHEESES FOR PIZZA
AND A FEW GAMES OF SKI BALL...
2015 FOUND HER STARTING TO LOOK ALL GROWN UP...

AS THE YEAR WENT ON I CONTINUED TO COOK AND BAKE....
AND THEN WONDER WHY I HAVEN'T LOST A POUND...
I ALWAYS MAKE MYSELF A PERSONAL "QUICHE"
WITH LEFT OVER PIE CRUST WHEN BAKING A PIE FOR THE BIG GUY.

I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL THE HOT DOGS I CONSUMED IN
2015....

IF YOU HAVE READ MY BLOG FOR ANY LENGHT OF TIME YOU KNOW THERE
IS ALWAYS ONE PICTURE OUT OF ORDER....
PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE....THIS WOULD BE IT...
DAUGHTER DID NOT START TRYING ON WEDDING GOWNS BEFORE THE ACTUAL
PROPOSAL....

HERE WE ARE THE TWO GOOF BALLS....AT...OF ALL PLACES...
THE GUN RANGE....
IN A POLITICALLY CORRECT WORLD THAT WE NOW LIVE IN...
WE HAPPEN TO LIVE WHERE THEY HIGHLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO "PACK HEAT"

HERE I AM FIRING MY FIRST GUN....
IT ACTUALLY WAS FUN AND YES I DID HIT THE TARGET...
ONCE OR TWICE!

OKAY....I REALLY LOVE HOT DOGS....
MOST DAYS I DINE ON 2 HEBREW NATIONAL 45 CALORIE DOGS WITH
SAUERKRAUT....I MEAN THEY ARE ONLY 45 CALORIES HOW BAD CAN THEY
BE.....
BUT IN 2015 THANKS TO A NEIGHBOR....
I DISCOVERED THE HOLY GRAIL OF DOGS....
THE COSTCO SNACK BAR WEINER...
OMG...IT'S HEAVEN ON AN EGG BUN.
AND FOR A $1.50 WITH A DRINK...
I COULD EAT EVERY MEAL THERE...

FOR MAKING THOSE BEAUTIFUL BREAKFASTS
EVERY MORNING I WAS
GIVEN THE COVETED
"ADIVARI NEW CAR OF THE YEAR"
AWARD...

HE TRIED TO GIVE ME JUST THE KEY TO THE TRUNK

BUT I CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE A CAR LIKE THIS SO I MADE HIM

GIVE ME MY OWN SET OF KEYS.....

THIS WOULD BE #8 IN OUR FLEET IF YOUR WONDERING...

UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO GO ON CRUISES AND

EXPENSIVE VACATIONS EVERY YEAR...

WE LOVE CARS....

IT'S JUNE 2015 SO THAT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING...
IT'S LINDA AND NECIE'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON...
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROSE WAS DOING NOT TO BE IN THE PICTURE...
AND JOYCE WAS AT HER OTHER HOME IN CHICAGO....
THAT WOULD BE....SANDIE...MAUREEN (THE HOT DOG NEIGHBOR)
BIRTHDAY GIRLS....
LINDA AND NECIE...

THE KIDS GOT ENGAGED!!
AND SET A WEDDING DATE OF OCTOBER 10TH....
TWO DAYS AFTER ME AND DAUGHTER CELEBRATE 2 MILESTONE
BIRTHDAYS....
OCTOBER 8TH.....1950
OCTOBER 8TH.....1975!

NOW WE CAN TRY ON GOWNS....
DAUGHTER ENDED UP BUYING THIS ONE....
BUT IN THE END....MEANING ONLY ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING...
THE DRESS WAS RUINED BY THE ALTERATIONS WOMEN....
DAUGHTER....NOT ONE TO PANIC...
WENT RIGHT OUT TO JERSEY AND FOUND ANOTHER DRESS...
AND IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT...
PROVING EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON....

ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF 2015...
THE CRAZY STRAY CAT FOUND HERSELF WITH AN EYE INFECTION....
WE MANAGED TO BAG HER UP AND GET HER TO OUR FAVORITE VET...
ONLY TO FIND OUT OUR "MISS KITTY" WAS ACTUALLY A
"MR KITTY"
THE VET QUICKLY SUGGESTED WE CALL HIM "CAT"LYN"
BUT WE PREFERRED TO KEEP CALLING HER MISS KITTY......

EAT MEATBALLS AT IKEA BUT DO NOT REFUSE TO HAVE
YOUR PICTURE TAKEN....
MAUREEN THE NEIGHBOR WHO INTRODUCED TO ME COSTCO...
HATES TO HAVE HER PICTURE TAKEN...

BUT NOT ME!!
AND IF SOMEONE WON'T TAKE YOUR PICTURE....
THEN TAKE YOUR OWN! THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE INVENTED THE "SELFIE"
OR I WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE AN IDIOT...

TED'S MONTANA GRILL WAS HAVING A SELFIE CONTEST....
UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT WIN FOR MY
"MINIONS EVEN LOVE TED'S"
PHOTO....
 

HERE I AM SOMETIME DURING THE YEAR MAKING
HOMEMADE MOZZARELLA AT THE LOCAL
SUR LA TABLE STORE....
SUCH FUN TO TAKE A COOKING CLASS...
YOU SHOULD ALL TRY IT ONCE...

I WENT RIGHT HOME AND TURNED MY NEW FOUND SKILL INTO
A FRESH TOMATO AND CHEESE TART ON PUFF PASTRY...
AGAIN...SOMETHING EVEN AN IDIOT COULD DO....

SPEAKING OF IDIOTS......JUST KIDDING....
HERE IS THE BOSS (WHO LOVES TO TALK TO ANYONE AND ANYTHING)
CONVERSING WITH A MINION ABOUT WHAT HE
WAS GOING TO WEAR FOR THE WEDDING....
IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE CRAZY YOU HAVE TO BE MARRIED TO SOMEONE
EQUALLY CRAZY....

HOW DOES A GRANDMA TEACH THEIR GRANDCHILD HOW TO SWIM....
WHEN GRANDMA HAS NO IDEA HOW TO SWIM...
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKED BUT I TAUGHT MISS B
HOW TO SWIM WHILE SHE WAS WITH US FOR A MONTH
THIS SUMMER...SHE DID GREAT....

B WAS WITH US THE WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST AND SHE REQUESTED
A TRIP TO THE BEACH...AND WHEN B ASKS WE DELIVER...
WE SPENT A WONDERFUL WEEK AT KIAWAH ISLAND...

an

BACK TO ATLANTA AND GETTING READY FOR THE BIG WEDDING...
I FOUND MYSELF AT A STORE CALLED "VON MAUER"
TRYING ON HATS...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY  GOOD
SELFIE....SECURITY DIDN'T EVEN ASK ME TO
TAKE A WALK...
I LOVE HATS!

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015 WAS SEEING
STEPHANE WREMBEL PERFORM HERE IN ATLANTA....
AN ADORABLE FRENCHMAN WHO PLAYS GYPSY
GUITAR MUSIC....HE WROTE AND PLAYED THE SOUNDTRACK FOR
"MIDNIGHT IN PARIS"....
HE IS AMAZING ON THE GUITAR AND ONE OF THE NICEST MEN
I KNOW...

MY BIG BIRTHDAY ROLLED AROUND AND DAUGHTER SURPRISED ME
WITH AN UPCOMING TRIP TO LOS ANGELES TO SEE THIS
HANDSOME FELLOW....
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT
ADORABLE ELI IS AT THE END OF HIS RUN WHERE HE CAN INTERACT
WITH PEOPLE AND HE MIGHT BITE....
VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE HIM IN PERSON AND SPEND A
FEW HOURS WITH HIM...

THE LAST THING I NEED IS A MONKEY BITE....
SO WE HAVE ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR OUR TRIP
WHICH IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK....
CAN'T WAIT DAUGHTER!!

OCTOBER IS A GREAT MONTH IN ATLANTA TO GO TO
SCOTT'S FLEA MARKET WHERE I PICK UP ALOT OF MY
MILK GLASS...
WHEN DAUGHTER SAYS....
"YOU GETTING OLD AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL YOUR
CRAP WHEN YOU DIE SO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BUYING ANYMORE"
IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO GO BUY MORE....AM I RIGHT??

AND THEN THE BIG DAY CAME!!
THOSE 30 POUNDS I WANTED TO LOSE IN TIME FOR THE WEDDING
NEVER HAPPENED....INFACT I THINK I GAINED A FEW...
DO YOU THINK IT WAS ALL THOSE HOT DOGS???

THE BOSS LOOKS NORMAL ENOUGH....
BUT I APPEAR TO HAVE NO NECK AND IT LOOKS LIKE I'M STANDING
IN A HOLE....
THE WEDDING IN THE PARK WAS AMAZING...
THE KIDS DID A GREAT JOB....
NO WEDDING PLANNER NEEDED FOR THEM...

THIS IS SO NEW YORK CITY....
ISN'T THE DAUGHTER'S DRESS ADORABLE...
MUCH BETTER THEN THE ORIGINAL ONE...
I LOVE THE HOT PINK SHOES...

HERE'S A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.....
THEY ADORE EACH OTHER..

AND HE MAKES HER LAUGH....
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH....

I LOVE THIS ONE.....

AND OF COURSE I HAD TO HAVE MY PICTURE TAKEN.....
I TRIED A SELFIE BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF
YOURSELF WHILE HOLDING BALLOONS!

MUCH BETTER....YOU CAN'T SEE HALF OF ME...

EMBRACE  YOUR GRANDCHILD'S NEW GRANDMOTHER.....
WE WELCOMED RONNIE IN TO OUR FAMILY WITH OPEN ARMS....
AND LOVE HER FOR LOVING OUR GIRLS SO MUCH....
SHE IS A ONE IN A MILLION MOTHER IN LAW... 

WHILE BABYSITTING THE B WHILE THE KIDS WERE IN EUROPE ON
THEIR HONEYMOON WE TOOK A DAY TRIP BACK TO
JERSEY....FONDLY REFERRED TO AS "THE MOTHERLAND"

 YOU KNOW WE HAD TO STOP AND HAVE SOME
JERSEY FOOD....
STEWART'S ROOT BEER HOT DOGS ARE THE BEST....
THEY COOK THEM IN HOT OIL...
I  CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE CALORIES...

WE GOT TO MEET AND HAVE DINNER AT THE HOME OF ONE OF
RONNIE'S COUSINS WHO JUST HAPPENS TO LIVE ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE KIDS....
COUSIN CARYN AND COUSIN SUSAN ARE JUST AS LOVELY AS
RONNIE....
AND RONNIE SURPRISED US WITH THE CAKE FOR OUR
45TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WHICH WAS ON
OCTOBER 31ST....

WITH THE YEAR QUICKLY COMING TO AN END....
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING ROSE'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
ORNAMENT SWAP AND LUNCHEON....
THE SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE IS SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH
CRAZY HAPPY FUN LOVING PEOPLE LIKE ROSE AND HER FRIENDS.... 

AND KIND AND GENEROUS FRIENDS LIKE
NEIGHBOR DIANNE....

AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN SO HAPPY....
ANYONE WHO KNOWS DAUGHTER KNOWS SHE
DESERVES ALL THIS HAPPINESS...
THANKS JOSH FOR BEING IN HER LIFE...
WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

AND WHAT MAKES SUE HAPPY.....
SOMETHING RED FOR CHRISTMAS....
YES...I KNOW THIS MAKES #9 AND NOT ONLY DO I HAVE MY OWN
KEYS BUT MY NAME IS ON THE TITLE!
THANKS BOSS FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER...
I WILL TRY NOT TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET...

AND YOU KNOW YOU FINALLY HAVE TOO MANY CARS WHEN
STATE FARM DELIVERS A FRUIT BASKET TO YOUR DOOR
FOR THE HOLIDAYS....

WE FINISHED OFF 2015 WITH A GROUP OF NEW FRIENDS....
"THE CAR GUYS" AND THEIR WIVES....
IT SEEMS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CRAZIES TO OWN SO MANY CARS....
THERE'S WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM OUT THERE...

I WOULD SAY THIS DESCRIBES ME PRETTY WELL.....
TO STAY YOUNG YOU HAVE TO STAY HAPPY...
YOU HAVE TO LAUGH AND HAVE FUN EVERY DAY EVEN IF IT'S
SOMETHING STUPID....
AND WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS......
ONE WORD.

AIR BRUSH!!

*****if anyone actually read this entire post....God bless you...and would you mind
leaving a comment even if it's just one word so I know you really did...
for those of you who are not bloggers just sign in as "anonymous" then leave your
name at the end of the comment....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!