Lake Michigan Wedding tomorrow

This is the place, these are the bride and groom!

Aren't they so cute?

Edward and Amanda will be

husband and wife tomorrow

on Lake Michigan beach!

Congratulations!

***

Savoy Brown-Take It Easy ;oD

Check out this very lazy and fun and interesting video. Sorry, I haven't figured out how to embed the whole video on my blog so you can just click, but this is pretty darned easy, too, so JUST DO IT! (;oD)
and take it easy, baby! xo from your SisSTAR xo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwH9fU-34ZA

TGIFF again!

Tuffy Boy, my wild child

Last I saw him he was sitting on top of a really big blue bird. Well, it was my car, actually, my '94 T-bird, but driving around with paw prints on it is somewhat humiliating to the poor vehicle. It has a personality, you know. Tuffy just thinks he's all powerful sitting on top of a big giant bird, so, whatever!

***

news flash!!!

Just got a call from our friend who is, shall we say, incarcerated? But the conversation was so awesome. So often he tries to call us but we're not here and miss his calls. Then there's the perfect moment in time when the conversation, albeit short, flows nonstop until the operator cuts us off. He is able to have new books sent to him so I am excited to go out and order one to send. He has lots of time on his hands and has taken it as the perfect moment to study many, many religious beliefs with an open mind (which he did not used to have). We've talked about many metaphysical subjects and at this moment in time, we resonate so well in that department. I am happy for him that he can use this time to improve his outlook on life. He never would've taken the time in this "outside world".

***

news flash!!

Went to our grand nephew's high school graduation party last Saturday and took my sister-in-law. For the most part it was awesome and very enjoyable, until the subject from our nephew we dearly love turned into right-wing politics and rhetoric at the speed of light frothing out of his mouth. I couldn't take it! I thought for sure I was going to have heart palpitations! He seemed like a badger coming at me left and right when all I wanted to do was BE peace, love, happiness, enjoying my in-laws and celebrating the occasion. Once again it opens my eyes to the fact that we do not always get from those we love that which we would want but we get what they are willing or needing to give us. I made a real "funny" today when I told Jeff that I thought what was happening was close to Aunt Abuse ... and then I realized that sounds just like Antabuse, the medication alcoholics take to keep them from drinking. That could be real appropriate here as I believe the "silver tongued devil" spewing forth was quite 5 sheets to the wind and my own little "Year of the Rabbit" persona self just didn't want to put up the necessary fight against the diatribe. Let the bigots laugh and joke like they need to/want to/must ... me and mine, we will Honor those Higher Selves I see in others, whether they manifest that goodness or not, well, that's not for me to demand. Highest blessings to you, Nephew ... you won't be reading this, unfortunately, but if you would calm down enough, I would say it all to you...but I might not live to see that day, Mr. HyperSonic!

***

Tomorrow is my 39th high school reunion....I signed on for it soon as the postcard arrived, being brave, being foolish, being ....what? Anyway, it is 1967-1971 so that intrigued me. It sure wasn't easy growing up in the late '60s and graduating in 1970...I doubt it's easy any time. Who would ever think that after Vietnam there would be other wars to follow? Call me a fool, but I think we need to raise our consciousness from Neanderthal--but, actually, they could've had great attitudes, just rough going out there jabbing at Woolly Mammoths with tree limbs whittled into spears! There's a lot of mental whittling of spear points going on today still ... jib jab, jib jab.

I once again repeat my Buddhist Pagan "prayer" for anyone who is in need of it:

***

May you be held in deepest compassion.

May your suffering and pain find ease.

May you be at peace.

May you live in joy.

***

God/dess Within

Teach Tolerance!

Love from

your

SisSTAR

XOXO

XO

X

adopt your own virtual pet!

seven eleven

I think I need to take some new pictures! I was browsing through mine and, well, you've seen 'em all before. So this was a cartoon I "happened upon" awhile back that tickled me. Let's see, we could talk about "self destructive tendencies" ... how about I ate a whole row of Fig Newtons tonight!? or last night for dinner I had 1/2 pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia and 1/2 pint of Swirled Peace (actual fudgie peace symbols in there!?) ... yeah, I was BAD, very BAD! Since Mama died there's just no one to tell me not to do some of these things my hedonistic self keeps doing. I have the resolve of a gnat! I am an undisciplined overgrown brat woman! I could say, "I'll do better tomorrow..." but it already IS tomorrow! And conditions don't look good, but I know "shrimp" of some sort is on the horizon -- maybe "shrimp on the barby!?" Just how DID my mother make those 3 squares a day plus bake desserts and snacks and do all those other domestic goddess stuff? I seemed to have shunned all that and it is quite a struggle to force myself to be a good haus frau ... a struggle, do you hear me? It isn't that I cannot make delicious and/or healthy cuisine, and I can appreciate that and all, but it is really difficult for me to make the day-in-and-day-out 3 squares ... more like grazing day- and night-long - moooooooo. I found the absolute cutest little tiny table at "Sally's" yesterday during "Super Senior" 33% discount day! Ha! The joys of being 57! I scrambled around like a madwoman in search of that certain "something" that would be calling out my name in the 20 minutes I had from arrival to closing time ... and, voila! there it was, this cute little "made in china" "4 lb max limit" table with a bottom shelf and a little glass door ... just what I wanted for my bathroom, to stash some toity paper and wash cloths in and also embellish with a lilac scented candle, 2 bluebirds, a little tiny "First Aid for the Soul" book. I put a tiny hand towel behind the glass door with frilly lace so it looks like a curtain. Oh, it's just so cute. And it cost me $6.38. It thrilled me quite enough for one shopping spree.

I had a dream a few days ago that a boss I worked for quite awhile back was standing in a doorway and we hugged and I told him, "I'm sorry you died." I didn't know he'd died in "real time" life so I promised myself I'd google the local paper in his vicinity and check out the obituaries. That was a trick I learned from him as he was a probate attorney... check the obits! Well, turns out he had died ... Feb 2008. I never knew. He fell off his roof clearing away a tree that had fallen in that very icy winter and received a bad head injury. I don't know all the details, but I know it felt all brand new to me, and it made me sad. I was glad that I had the dream and that I called the old office number and spoke to his wife ... because after nearly 1-1/2 yrs, probably quite a few others have absconded with their "sympathy" wishes and to me it was fresh, very new and fresh, and I could sincerely let her know I felt heartbroken to hear that news. I hope to go visit her and their daughter someday before too long. Mr. P was such a great guy, and I felt proud to work for him. How about that! An ethical and honest attorney! When my mother died, it helped to be working for a probate attorney ... and that he was a real estate attorney helped when we chose to buy my mother's home. I found out my mother had died sitting in his office on his phone. It's funny how those we work with through the years leave such impressions on us. Some of my greatest friendships have been and still remain those that I have been privileged to be coworkers with ... or employees of. They are like families to me, families I rarely see or converse with, yet I know them like family.

To all of you out there kind enough to read through this post, I hold you in my heart like Family, good family. Thank you for being there, even if we've never met, even if I'll never know you even read these words. Highest and best blessings...

from your SisSTAR XOXO

XOXO

xoxo

Happy Birthday, my dear Husband

The 4th of July was fun with a trip to Borders Books where we sampled tiny "S'mores" coffees and each chose our fun purchases (Jeff got Derek Trucks and Vintage Fleetwood Mac CDs, I got him a new 2009 Leonard Maltin Movie Guide and for myself a Metaphysical Gemstone guide to add to my many others--I LOVE rocks!) and we then went to "Sally's" ... Salvation Army store, 50% off sales for the holiday. Actually went again an hour before they closed to get even greater sales as it's about half a mile from our home. On the way back home there were fireworks all over the place from private homes and though it was sorta pretty, and afterall it WAS the real 4th of July, I couldn't help but feel sad for the pets who feel traumatized and the wild animals out there--the mama deer and her fawn who come around, the bunnies and their babies, etc. There is a huge Albanian Catholic church real close to our home also that was having a celebration and the Middle Eastern music was loud and I loved it. I was dancing out in the orchard in the dark with the fireflies for my OWN personal fireworks and some neighboring homes blasting off big boomers. It all calmed down pretty much by 11 pm, thank goodness. At midnight we were watching TV when I noticed the time and sang Happy Birthday to Jeff. He just kept saying, "55!" I told him he married me because I was older than him and would always tell him he was just a baby. Heck, when my dad was 55, I was only 9!!! so it all sounds pretty young to me. We're going to the movies first thing tomorrow (his birthday) to see The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. He earned a free ticket the last movie we went to ... which was "UP" an awesome movie and seen in 3D! Hoping for some lighthearted entertainment and then going to pick out a pecan pie for Jeff's BD "cake". I wanted to bake him a cake but it's not in the picture ... (sorry, honey!) We are going to Mr. B's for his free BD dinner ... today we went to Famous Dave's, a BBQ restaurant our friend sent him a gift card to. Yum! Couldn't eat that food too often! but it was good for the special occasion. Also going to buy more bird food, esp stocking up on suet cakes as the birds are feeding babies now and those are going so quickly...and getting a new bird feeder. Jeff is so good at keeping all the feeding locations filled...he is such a wonderful, warm, caring and loving person and I am very blessed to have the privilege of being his wife. His coworkers all signed a card for him and his sisters and niece sent their unique sense of humor in cards, friends have called singing happy birthday songs on the phone machine, and we know a special gift is on its way from St Ignace! (we love you more infinity, CJ! and "Happy A-Day to you, too!") Thank you from my blog friend in Singapore for remembering his birthday also! With his son, wife and himself all just having birthdays, it'll be nice to think of remembering all of them at this time of year for a long time. Even Tuffy the cat came in just after midnight to wish "Daddy" a happy birthday then he wanted in the garage to flop down on his blankets and sleep for the night. It was probably quite exhausting being out there with the fireworks going off all over! (with his girlfriend we named "Creamy" ... he's not always very nice to her but we are trying to keep her fed just the same).

Well, hope all of you have a good night's sleep. I know I'm hoping for that! and that your weekend has been fun, safe and loving. Many blessings going out there to my Bloggie Souls, with love from Your SisSTAR xoxoxoxo

Happy Independence Day

No, freedom isn't

free, but freedom

without peace is not

as worthwhile to me.

Live free, with

gratitude for those

who have helped

keep freedom in

our lives ... and

those who have

made peace their

priority. Thank you

all!

Make Love

Not War!

Be safe this 4th

of July weekend!

Drive sober ... and

put the cell phone

down, too ;oD

Love from

your SisSTAR!

And please remember the little animals out there, domestic and wild, who are terrified of the fireworks and know that fun shouldn't be at the expense of terrorizing those weaker than us (like my brother who threw firecrackers and sparklers at me!) If God celebrates the 4th of July, I bet Dana is begging to be the one to set off the biggest explosions! or maybe it doesn't hold an interest to him any longer?! ;oD