Sunday, October 22, 2023

The wedding was phenomenal. It rained all day so it couldn't be in the garden as originally planned but the room they had the ceremony and reception in was really beautiful. The benefit of an old hotel with lots of gorgeous windows. The groom had carefully planned all the music from many eras and with a lot of music from various shows. He brought a friend from California to DJ the wedding so all the music was just perfect. Nothing traditional even during the wedding ceremony but it all worked well. The bride looked like a princess as she had always wanted to be as a child LOL. Everyone had a great time - lots of mingling and most everyone was at the after party in the bar. Many hangovers at breakfast this morning including my son. He had a lot of fun last night and DH videoed us dancing together. DH and I are tired but not hungover.

We leave in about 1/2 hour to drive back to Albany for the afternoon and overnight. We may be shivering at DH's granddaughter's softball game this afternoon. It will be worth the cold! Tonight should be an early night which is a good thing after two nights of frivolity. We fly back to Florida late tomorrow afternoon.

Have a great and simple Sunday!

I love the pictures you posted on Facebook of the wedding. You all look wonderful and like you are having the best time!

We went out for breakfast this morning with DD. She leaves tomorrow around 3pm. DH does not work Mondays, so they will enjoy spending the morning together. I will be back at work.

This 4 day break has been wonderful. A weekend just isn't long enough to recover sometimes. Weirdly, as my mood improved, I was happy to know that my crankiness is not a permanent affliction. Thanksgiving break is just around the corner!

Speaking of holidays, my nephew and his wife indicated last summer they would be open to taking over hosting duties for Christmas Eve. Now they say they can't. We have to decide what to do. I'd like to go out for dinner after Mass and not be in charge of all of this anymore. But I don't want to disappoint family that continues to want to gather and celebrate the way we have for decades now. On the other hand, many of the nieces and nephews have in laws and kids of their own, so they are no longer able to attend... I should decide pretty soon...

Yesterday I made soup, and DH helped me make Chili. (Lots of chopping!) I'll portion it out this afternoon, and put some lunch sized servings in the freezer. Nice grab and go for the coming week, and probably beyond...

Though I didn't mind giving up hosting Christmas after 20 years of it ****il 2014), it really hasn't been the same since. But it would have changed anyway after my MIL died and my BIL and family stopped coming from the West coast.

Greetings all

Today started out sunny but it's sprinkling now. Reminds me of weather in the midwest - quick to change.

I've been trying to catch up on misc stuff. Bill paying, laundry, groceries, tidying up. Not much to it but not very interesting.

Last night after football we ended up watching part of Nebraska women's volleyball. Wisconsin was #1 team and we were #2. Turned into a very exciting game right down to the wire. Nebraska won and it was a big deal. I didn't quite understand the ending as there was some kind of rule violation that was overturned. This is the team for whom the fans decided to set a new world record for attendance at a women's sporting event. 92,003 in the football stadium. I looked up the previous record and it was 90,000 for women's soccer in Spain.

Liz sounds like a great wedding. A wonderful lifetime memory for that bride and groom. What do people get for wedding gifts these days? I remember being give a silver plated wine bucket. I thought I had won the Kentucky Derby!!! Anyway I hope they got good gifts. Stay warm at the game.

DD glad you had the long weekend to rest up. Christmas hosting?! I remember doing two complete thanksgivings; one for DH family and one for mine. Not anymore. How many people do you have? Can it be pot luck? Years ago I had a secretary who was one of 15 children. Their family had to rent the local Legion hall for holiday dinners. Oddly, she married a man who was also one of 15 children. I think they finally had just one. Anyway I don't envy you hosting but I think back and would do it again if all the people who have left us were still around. And hey, get ready to send me a Twinkie. Do they still make those?

We had a knock at the door at about 8:30 last night. Unusual around here. It was one of the college kids from next door who wanted to borrow a half cup of milk. Turns out they were making mac and cheese. I had no milk but offered half and half. She was uncertain it that would work. I assured her it would. I m sure it was mac and cheese from a box.

Well the clothes won't fold themselves. Nor will they wad themselves up and stuff themselves into drawers.

I started calling guests for Halloween. Several will not be in town so it's a smaller crowd than usual. Maybe 10. Works for me.

Cheers all. Diane S

Wow, after making their mac and cheese with half n half, those kids were probably in heaven. I still really love boxed mac and cheese, so much delicious sodium! Now that my kids are grown, I don't buy it anymore.

I used to double the milk when I made it for my kids and they loved it. Talk about processed foods...

Yes, I am really struggling with this Christmas Eve decision for the reasons you all stated. If I pull the plug, it will like never be the same again. And we see less and less of DHs siblings every year. Back in the day, there were so many birthday parties for all the kiddos, and I babysat my 6 nieces and nephews every Tuesday morning, we were together several times a month. But time marches on.

Last year the RSVP s were a small group indeed. (In our hey day, it would be close to 30 adults and children. ) Then all afternoon, people were calling and asking if it would be okay if they dropped by. It went from 9 to 20 rather quickly, and it was so fun. If we're at a restaurant, that can't happen.

And what we all wouldn't do to have the people we've lost and miss back at the table. My in laws, who died by the time I was 31, used to host us all at an Easter Buffet at the Officer's Club in Minneapolis. (FIL was a retired Air Force Major) At the time I remember thinking it was okay, but kind of mediocre. Later, I reflected many, many times about what I would've given to attend that brunch with them again.

Holidays are so much, in so many ways.