One birdie is back out of the nest, and the other is getting ready to jump!

We were all up early this morning, all 4 of us.  On our way to Newark Airport to get Caity back to Florida, back to school.  The line for the security checkpoint at the airport was i.n.s.a.n.e!  I’d never seen anything like it, but we were early (as they recommend).  While we waited for Caity a bit, we witnessed a number of people, frantic about the line.  You see, their planes were already boarding, and they had (easily) an hour wait in front of them.  I reminded my girls…THIS is why you leave yourself a lot of time.  A lot a lot.  So you have a nice, easy travel day.  So you never feel like those people we saw today — with panic written plainly on their faces.

After the farewell kisses to Caity – Peter, Erin and I went for a nice breakfast and then a day full of shopping.  College sundry shopping for Erin…bath and laundry supplies, a tea-pot, lots of little storage baskets, socks and pens, and the rest.  Lots of laughs filled the day.

In the car on the ride home, we received a text from Cait.  “I’ve landed.” she said.  All three of us let out a sigh of relief and Erin called out — “tell her don’t drink the fish!”  Say What?  You see, Caitlin is heading back to Rollins a week early to a) take an Intercession class on Writing Novels and b) to take part in Sorority Recruitment.  Caity is going to explore the process of joining a sorority.  All day long, Erin has been counseling Cait on all the things she should NOT do, JUST to join.  Such passion about it –  even though Cait assured her that Rollins does not allow hazing (and the fact that Caitlin Ann Cherniak is as true blue as they come!)  Still, Erin had to share the story of a friend of hers from Dublin, whose brother was hazed in the frat rush at Penn State and was made to drink a fish in a cup of bleach.  I HOPE the story is not true, but…..one can never know.

So that became the battle cry for Cait’s travel day.  “Remember,….don’t drink the fish!”  I laugh, because this is the girl who will only drink water, milk and OJ.  If she won’t drink Coca Cola or tea or coffee….the likelihood of her drinking a fish…..well……<0%.

So — off you go Caity.  Enjoy your Spring semester and Writing Novels!  Whatever happens during recruitment, I am assured that you will land where you belong, amongst sisters and fellow women who will love you [almost] as much as we do,

Oh and (for Erin) ….. Don’t drink the fish!  #100happydays (51/100)

Ciao for now…Diane

Today is an “inside day“.  Lots to do around the house.  Some cooking and cleaning, doing laundry so Caity can pack to go back to school….oh, and taking down the Christmas tree (ah well, you know the saying….’all good things must come to an end!’)   But the Universe has set me up to enjoy my day inside.  While sunny, it’s bitterly cold out there.  No temptations at all. AND…. The Downton Abbey Marathon is on PBS.  I’m so enjoying getting re-acquainted with the Crawleys from the very beginning!  What was that old Snow White tune?  Something about “Whistle While You Work”!  That’s me today. 🙂   #100happydays (50/100)

Ciao for now….Diane

Good morning 2016!  I’m up early in a quiet house, sipping my coffee next to the Christmas tree.  The house has the chill of morning….yet somehow the sparkle of christmas lights warms me.   Then again, it could be the coffee. 😉

Peter and I never opened that bottle of red last night.  We were on uber duty with our daughter, Erin, who was out at a party in town.  Oh well, it was a fine and fun evening regardless.  Besides, there will be plenty of other occasions to celebrate in 2016.  It’s going to be a BIG year, full of new and wonderful things.  

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Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!  Ok, ok… I know some of you have BIG, GLAMOROUS PLANS. Enjoy, stay safe, so we can Run.  Skip. and Jump. through 2016 together.

Me?  Well, at the risk of being called O.L.D…..I’m spending the night, on the couch with Peter.  Spending it the way we like, the way we roll…..Red Wine and Pajamas!  I hope I wear it as well as Elaine.  🙂   #100happydays (48/100)

Happy New Year’s Eve!!  Enjoy yourself and Uber or Cab yourself home.  Be safe.  See you in 2016~

Ciao for now….Diane

Today especially, we can feel the BIG shift away from Christmas to the celebration of the coming New Year,  The countdowns to ….. well, everything….have begun.  Yet, I’m sitting here in my family room beside the Christmas tree – enjoying the last few nights of its glow.

Our daughters went into NYC today with their friend Stan from High School.  I really love Stan.  He calls me Mom,  well – and so it is.  Anyway — they went in to see the Rockefeller Tree, to ride the Ferris Wheel in the Times Square Toys R Us, on this, its LAST day.  The store is closing.  Time Square rent is too high.  Really Sad!  They had lunch at the Hard Rock…and h.e.c.k…..their bus even broke down on the way home  Now THAT’S a FULL day in New York!!

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I only have two teenagers in my house, but the revolving door of friends through this house over the past few weeks has been….well…..f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.   

There was a sleepover in our family room last night.  Not much sleep, but alot of chatter and laughter, followed by chocolate chip pancakes this morning.  What’s not to like?  Erin and her crew left for the movies at the mall, just in time for Cait’s friend Josh to arrive.

Josh is a terrific young man, went to High School with Cait.  He’s in college at Montclair – has an interest in pre-Med, so he’s on the lookout to transfer next year.  They played some new Wii game that Cait received for Christmas, ate some pizza, and just had fun.  It’s always a pleasure to see Josh every time Cait is home.  High School friends are important.  #100happydays (46/100)

Ciao for now…..Diane

The Irish don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.  My Erin and her room mate Jo,   ‘t.r.i.e.d.’ to make themselves a meal worthy of the pilgrims, but — she confessed to me that they both were kinda sad on Thanksgiving night, and maybe shed a tear or two together.

OH.  MAKE IT STOP.  My HEART HURTS!

So when your grown daughter, tells ya something like that.  You roast a turkey and put on Thanksgiving #2 in lieu of Christmas dinner!  She was happy……So mama was happy.

Today?  Well.  It was deja vu all over again, as I scraped up every turkey-leftover recipes I could find.  Today, I channeled my mom — and managed to produce a PRETTY FINE Turkey Pot Pie, if I don’t say so myself 🙂  #100happydays (45/100)

Ciao for now….Diane

It was W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L. spending Christmas with all of you.  You may have been far away — but in a small way — you spent the season in our home.  Our Christmas Card Door.  #100happydays (44/100)

Ciao for now….Diane

Day after Christmas, and I was up at 7am — getting myself ready to go to my 8am Weight Watchers Meeting.  What?? It’s Saturday, right?

Sure enough.  Somehow, even with the “devilish” Thumbprint cookies — I managed to lose 1.8 pounds over Christmas.  Like a thief in the night — I grabbed it and ran!  The meeting was uplifting.  Denise was inspiring and compassionate and pushy.. haha!  All the RIGHT things a person needs to get themselves ‘right’ with food.  When I say pushy, I mean that Denise encourages action.   Hey — these changes aren’t gonna happen by themselves.  We gotta make ’em happen!

So I’m home today, cleaning up a little, resting a little ….and soaking up one of my Christmas presents.

Erin brought me Irish Breakfast Tea, all the way from Dublin.  She knows me so well.  And there is something s.u.p.e.r.b. when your children leave home….and come back with small things that help you realize….”you did well Mom.  You created a kind being for the world.”

So, I’m bathing my soul (and my residual sugar cravings) in my Erin’s love…and a nice hot cup of tea,  #100happydays (43/100)

Ciao for now…..Diane

Merry Christmas Day.

I could go on and on about all the lovely moments that pass between a family on this day.  But instead, let us remember the reason we are all here…..able to enjoy life together, on this day — and all others.

Take it away Linus.  (No body does it better 🙂  #100happydays (42/100)

Merry Christmas!  Ciao for now….Diane