Shall we dance?

I love it when my life reflects a movie moment. Spontaneous, fun and memorable.

One of my favorites was when I was shopping at a large mall. At the center, there was a large holiday display and seating for the weary shoppers. My goal was to get to the other side of the expansive walk and have a rest. Just as I'm crossing, I almost bump into a man. He pardons, and we both start to go right. Whoops! Pardon again, and we both go left! On the third attempt, he sets down his bags, grabs me around my waist and we waltz around the circle laughing. The dance ends with me pointed the direction I need to go  and him his. We were applauded for our spontaneous dance. I didn't even know I could waltz like that. He was an accomplished dancer and guided me around effortlessly.

What an ego boost and a lifetime smile for me! For a minute in time, I was Cinderella at the ball except I was in blue jeans and sneakers.

Shall we dance?

A night out for a beer

A night out with friends for a beer taste with 5 course meal. After cocktail hour, we got to the seating area and began the tastings. I don't like beer in any form, so I was the designated driver and observer, sipping my diet coke.

As the heavy pours continued over the next 3 hours, enough alcohol was consumed to make even the most practiced drinkers bleary eyed and stomachs full of enough food to commence a food coma.

As we were preparing to leave, a lady in front of us stood up, turned around to say something to her date, took a step back and fell backward over her chair, losing  both her shoes as they flew off her feet kicking toward the ceiling. Another guest stopped her from actually hitting the floor, but her date got to see the color of her underpants and stood in a daze as she commanded him to help her find her lost footwear as she composed herself, looking around to see if anybody caught her indignant topple. She smoothed her skirt and hair down, and began her deliberate exit carrying her shoes. Her gait was a little unsteady as she exited with dignity unbeknownst to her I would be blogging about her the next day.

Our group found the way to the car without incident, although there was talk about how we all were fine, just fine, and would have no problem driving home but wouldn't pass a breathalyzer test. I was happy to be the designated driver. I had just as much fun and participated in the Q&A with the rest, and I didn't even fall off my chair!

Keep it in mind to have your designated driver on those party nights coming up. You might just be saving a life other than yours.

Stay safe out there friends!
Have fun and enjoy your night!
Don't forget to buy your designated driver a coke!
Try to stay upright and all right!

Cheers!

How old am I?

I am extremely annoyed at myself.

For the past year, I have believed that I am 2 years older than I actually am and now that my natal day is approaching, my Mr. Man has reminded me that we are the same age and have been for the last 3 months! Even more annoying is that I have listed my age INCORRECTLY on my latest medical information and license renewals. So, I can either stay this ancient age for another 2 years and pretend that I have been in a cryogenic slumber, looking amazing for my age, or own the real age and see that this lined face and these gray hairs belong to a virtual youngster? Either way, it is really upsetting that I have lost my faculties enough to wish myself two years older and didn't even get any birthday cake to wish upon!

I'm younger than I say I am! whoop! Hope this continues into my 90's!

Communion Sunday

It was Communion Sunday at church. I always try to attend the second Sunday of the month so I can be part of this symbolic gesture as we renew our relationship Christ and remember his sacrifice for me

. As the trays of communion wafers and cups of  red liquid are passed through the church, there is always some beautiful song playing in the background. Our church takes the cups and wafers as a church body and we wait until every one has the "body and blood of Christ" in their hands. It is a solemn ritual and one I take very seriously.
  During one of our recent communion services, there was a pew with several residents from a local convalescent home. As the communion plates are passed along, it was handed to an elderly man who wasn't able to hold the plate upright. His neighbor held the bulky plate for him as he tried to grasp ahold of a cup and pick a small 4 cm. wafer out of the bowl with crippled fingers twisted by the ravages of arthritis and age. The church usher stood by his side and helped him to get hold of the two items. With shaking hands and determination to keep the cup upright and not spill it, the old man tucked his hands under his arms to steady them. The congregation waited patiently, the song was extended effortlessly and the pastor held off the prayer until the old man was composed and ready.
 As the congregation of 500 took communion and thanks, I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if the world could just slow down a bit to accommodate those who are a little slower than ourselves, be considerate and thoughtful of others, and to help each other in times of need, even if its just the smallest gesture?
Be grateful and live the day to its fullest. It is a gift. Thank God above for all the riches you enjoy.
This day, do a good deed for another out of the love of your heart.

Vege gone wrong!

I fell for it again. Seeing a delicious and beautiful, perfect food created with just a few ingredients and photographed then posted to social media and thinking I could do that!

Some of the recipes even have a video, showing how easily the mango will fall away from its seed, the avocado from its seed, the pineapple, the watermelon, the egg perfectly boiled and peeled. The apple rosette, the olive stuffed penguins.  I try the recipes that look simple enough and beautiful to impress, but they are either gross or a total fail.

I decided to do zucchini chips. How hard could it be? Slice, season, oil and bake. I followed the directions exactly. Epic fail and gross to taste. I ate the first "chip" but it was just chewy and not chip like at all, not puffy and golden as pictured,  but other than it gagged me. Then I thought maybe it was a fluke. It looked kinda like the photo-just flat and black, so I gave it another taste. Spit that out and then I realized most of the problem was the smell. Two days later and I still smell the dang things, the odor lingering like charred popcorn in the microwave.

Spending the day descenting and destroying any and all evidence that I experimented with the vegetable and wish I had just sautéed the zucchini like I usually do and ate it old school.

I don't know what strength of Febreeze is being touted on the commercials that absorbs all odors and the people are blindfolded and surrounded by trash and cat litter unaffected by the odors, but I'm writing the company and calling them out on their bogus propaganda. It isn't working and I'm resorting to spraying the stuff on the ceilings and ovens and my tongue. Relying on the old fashioned bowl of vinegar to suck away the odor of the vege gone wrong!

Welcome to Greengate street

New neighbors are expected for this weekend. The house next door to the west of me has been occupied for the last year by a couple of very quiet, non-interactive, unobtrusive women. Before their departure this week, they had a gardener come to rejuvenate the now dead lawn, trim the bushes and rid the front walk of weeds. I don't think they counted on total annihilation of anything resembling a bush or shrub, and alas, the "Dr. Seuss" tree crunching both of our walls and really not a tree at all but a sucker bush with giant tree envy puffed up on a leaking drip line-remains unscathed. They dodged that tree removal cost. At least its something green.

Gone are the beautiful rose bushes that lined the fence and were often plundered by me on the down low, for beautiful floral arrangements throughout my house. Especially sad is the removal of the Lady Bird Johnson Rose bush which had the proud history of winning a Blue Ribbon at the L.A. County fair in 1973. I'm sure the new owners will be surprised at the lack of any landscaping when they arrive. It certainly is bare and brown now that the gardeners took the machete and turbo week whacker to it.

Always iffy wondering if the new folk are going to get along with us. We may not be the best of friends on this block, but we do look out for each other and learn who's who and Who goes where and with what kind of dog or cat. Certainly they are clueless that there is a Tweaker drug dealer directly across the street and that his clients like to park on their curb.

I know there are 2 boys, under age 10. Hopefully they won't be peepers as the first, and second residents were, watching me through the decorative brick on top of the fence. I'll take them the customary "welcome" basket full of snickerdoodles, shake their hand and introduce myself. After all, we look into each other bathrooms and down the hallways if the windows are left open on both houses. Luckily that's the guest bath so no shower show for these folks. We should be on a first name basis!  

Wishing some body I knew and liked were moving in . It would be fun to fill the neighborhood up with nice friendly people. Where are all my peeps looking to move to Southern Cali?? Seems as if everyone is set on moving OUT of here!!!

Welcome to Greengate street. You are now part of the Kravitz vs. Kravitz watch team. You're gonna need a pair of binoculars and a journal. And this isn't called the Circle City for no reason. Once you are here there is no escape!

It's breezy

It's breezy out today.  I'm trying to throw the ball for the Captain but the wind makes the ball  curve into the bushes with every toss. Switched techniques and tried rolling it down the sidewalk like a bowling ball. Even this is a challenge but for love of the dog, I persevere and try to get the ball as far as possible so he feels more challenged and satisfied about the retrieval.

As I ready for the long pitch, a plastic bag whips up out of no where and sticks to the side of my face. I'm slapping at it and trying to peel it off without getting any more of it into my mouth than necessary. Horror of horror! It has touched my lips and I feel the microbes crawling on my skin. I recall noticing a bag at the corner of the yard where every dog on its walk has relieved themselves.

Let the wetness on this bag just be dew and let the bag have only been used for fruit! Ugh! We are done playing outside! I have to decontaminate!