Oh Valentine, Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day.

Thought I'd post a quick one today, in anticipation of the next couple of busy days. 

Kids have half day of school, then parties to go to, and finishing out the weekend with a hockey game.

     I like Valentine's Day.  I like it like a kid does.  The bright reds and hot pinks are festive and help to shake the cabin fever.  The flowers remind me that someday spring will spring.  And the candy is well, great!  I'm happily married and got 2 great kids, so I guess these days it's also all about the love, as well.

     Thinking back to my younger days,  I recall 2 Valentines who decided that was the day to end our relationship.  Seriously?  Cheapos.

     To be fair, I can also remember one Valentine's Day where I received a very sweet card and flowers, only for me to call and leave the message, "Thank you for the card and flowers; we need to seriously talk."  He got the message.  Never heard from him again.  They were pretty flowers though.

     From working in the restaurant business, where it's a given that you will work on Valentine's Day; it is sometimes viewed as a sort of amateur night.  This comes from witnessing at least one of, if not all of the following during a Valentine's Day night.  
It's the pressure.

-Dates where it is obvious that it is one of if not the first date.  Both participants resemble deer in headlights, desperate to figure out what the other is hoping/anticipating, all the while making careful,...staggered,... conversation.

-Dates that are eager to impress, by either ordering the most expensive dish/wine, or something they have never tried before.  Oysters and escargot are two first time/last time culinary adventures.

-Dates who have obviously "lost that lovin' feeling."

-Dates who are obviously hungry; but not for food.  All over each other, drawing attention of all others within earshot and view.  There's really no nice and easy way to suggest that they may want to take their activities elsewhere.  That is if you can even get their attention.

-Proposals.  Sometimes sweet.  Sometimes awkward.

-Parties of more than 2, not on dates, not happy about that status, and determined to let everyone else know it.

      Keep in mind, guests that are not happy, even if the food and service are great, generally do not show monetary appreciation to their server.  Thus, amateur night.

      Yes, there are nice couples who are happy to be together as well.  Nice to be one of these, and nice to take care of in a restaurant.  No matter what day of the year.



     Hope you get to celebrate the day no matter how small, how big, with a smile and a laugh and those you love.
 

 Happy Valentine's Day.

The Hoopla

How's everyone doing?

10 Days to go till Christmas Eve.

I think I am finished with the shopping.  So that usually means in about 5 days time I'll think of something that someone absolutely can't do without, and I can't find absolutely anywhere.

Then there's the baking.  Getting in the right frame of mind, to be ready to bake some yummy treats, all the while accepting all the help (the 9 and younger set)  that is available to you.  Then you realize there's that one key ingredient you are missing.  Like sugar.

The Christmas Cards.  Making them out merrily, while listening to Nat King Cole, then remembering that so-n-so, got a new job and moved.  Is this the new address or the old?  They got married; now whose place are they living?  Or they're no longer together, where did I put their new addresses?  What's their new significant other's name?  Go the distance.  Stay in touch.  Lots of egg nog later...

Decorate!

All the while using language as colorful as your holiday wrapping paper.

Now there's the Christmas Spirit.

 

Rainy Autumn Days...

     Another rainy day here; fine with me.
     As I have mentioned before, I tend to get more accomplished on rainy days rather than sunny days.  Got up; got the kids to school; did a dab of cleaning (as the saying goes, "a little dab will do ya")  and then visited with a good friend; which was the highlight of the morning.  Now, I will write a bit; work on a few other aspects of Sadie's; then start some bread before going to pick the kids up from school.  Who knows what I'll accomplish once they come home, but I know it will include some smiles and hugs.  Good by me.

     I think I have mentioned it before, but if not, I love fall.  Once it gets cool enough to freeze out the mosquitoes; I am quite content and slip into my relaxed state of mind for the next few weeks, before the craziness of the holidays takes over.

    With Halloween approaching, I always try to read as many of the horror classics that I can.  Sorry, I am a wimp admittedly and cannot make it through more than a few pages of Stephen King.  Brilliant writer, but messes too much with my psyche.  So these are the ones that I can manage, and still get a good night's sleep.

Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving-  Read recently for the first time.  Great fun and a quick read, less than 100 pages.

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury-  Can't say enough good about this wonderful book.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley- Good, but I always feel sad for the monster.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson- Another good and quick read.  Just a little over 100 pages.

Dracula by Bram Stoker- Been awhile since I have read this and; I found it a bit hard to get into; but will try once again.

     Hope you are enjoying your day, whatever the weather.  Tomorrow, it is my intention to share with all, some yummy fall beers I have discovered.   Sadly, only through description will I be sharing.

All the same,
Cheerio!

Yesterday A Botticelli; Today A Picasso

In my younger days,
       I used to somewhat 

            resemble:

Done by Sandro Botticelli

Nowadays, I look more like this:

                                      At least I am still smiling!

Can anyone relate?😉😂😊

WHAT I AM; WHAT I'M NOT

Nothing eloquent, just some random thoughts...

     Sadie's Gathering was the title I picked because I know me.  I loved my Grandma Sadie and the term gathering has always made me think of fun times. It could be either a gathering for a family holiday meal, or one with friends for a bitch fest.  I just wanted a place to write, about this and that; and thought hopefully someday it might form into a career of sorts.  So...

     First- I am a rotten typist.  You have no idea how long it has taken me to write these first few sentences.  I swear a lot.  Thankfully, my kids are in school at the present moment. 

     I am basically a happy person.  But I have my moods.  I decided a long time ago, not to let the emotion hate take up time with me.  My time is too precious.  So, I came up with a visualization of sorts, that involves me dancing in a pair of kick ass stilettos on the privates of the source of contention.  Does the trick every time.  Feel free to borrow that tip.   Enables you to smile sweetly, and give the impression of a sane, emotionally mature individual.

     One of the reasons I chose to have "gathering" in my title, is that I tend to have a lot of different topics, running through my brain any given moment.  Some may think I have ADHD.  What was I writing?  That's a joke.  I have thought about this and this is what I have come up with (I am cocky enough to believe it to be fact); so here's my thought:  With the invention of computers and all the shtuff; I think the average human brain just wasn't built to process all that new knowledge and keep on going as normal.  Stay with me.   Don't get me wrong, I think the human brain is virtually limitless in what it can learn.  However, I think that the time for optimum learning is when one is young: 10 and under.  After that there is the heavy logic, worry, hormones and other concerns that weigh the mind down and inhibit learning.  Not saying it is finished, but one just needs to consider, all things, before labeling occurs.  I know my daughters learn computer related techniques, a lot quicker than me, because they were born into that language.  I am not a tech savvy individual and struggle daily with all the nuances of all the jargon and all the social media, that are pertinent to what I am trying to do.  On the other hand, I was raised that proper manners require eye contact.  Today, with everyone looking at their screens, whatever they be, eye contact with another human being is often seen as confrontational.  Just an observation; just a thought.

     I am not a monument to justice, a saint, or running for office.  So, I can write and say pretty much whatever I want.   That being said, I realize at times it may seem that I am trying to preach or inspire or whatever; with posts like yesterday's "The Time Is Now" or "Take A Moment...Then Pass It On".
I do think the message is important; but I know the message is nothing new.  Still, the message is important, so keep it going from whatever source it comes.  Just for the record, I yell at my kids too much, and am of the mind most days, that no matter who the parent, (especially Ozzie and Harriett)
the kid will need therapy, or think they need it, somewhere down the line.

     One of the blogs I regularly visit is People I Want To Punch In The Throat.  Very funny most days.
Jen, who writes it, wrote about the Brian Holloway's House yesterday as well.  With her title, she has the luxury of writing all the words that come to mind, all the time.  I stated early on that since I often have 2 new, eager readers peering over my shoulder while I write that I would abstain from that luxury on Sadie's Gathering.  There are days that what I find at PIWTPITT crosses my line.  Probably if Jen stops by Sadie's, she has her critiques as well; may find it a little Pollyannish (sp) maybe.  No matter, that's why we each have the titles that we do.  I think she's probably a lot of fun to hang with, and a great mom.  Hope she would think the same of me.

     So, for the record, I don't have the snarkiness of some;  I am not trying to be Martha Stewart; and Sadie's is not a mom blog; I was here first.  However, I think you will find aspects of all of these from time to time, at Sadie's.  Hope you've enjoyed your visits to Sadie's Gathering.   Let's see what's round the bend.

Have a nice weekend.
S.

Sadie Says...A Peek Behind The Curtain

     Bear with me for the next little bit, as I focus on trying to learn how to add a drop down for Sadie's "Recipes." As you know, I am not the savviest one when it comes to technology, but I am learning.  Just to let you know, somewhere down the line, I hope to feature a page that has what I have learned in the past year with launching Sadie's Gathering, as far as the technology goes.  We'll see.
     In the mean time, I thought I would give a peek behind the curtain of Sadie's Gathering.  There are days that I have to jump through so many hoops, that I feel like I might as well be creating Oz.  But I'm just a gal from West Virginia, who hopes to create a site that's fun, cozy, and homey.  If you were sitting around a table with me, these are quips you might hear me say:

"Fine and dandy cotton candy..."  This, I will usually say sincerely, when everything is good.  At times I confess that it gets said with sarcasm. 

"Oh Pickle dickle" Nice way of expressing frustration when my daughters are present and I wish to keep it clean.

"I'm a lover not a housekeeper..."  Utter this pretty much everyday.  It's not that I don't like housekeeping; I do as long as, "the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars."
I need reading glasses these days, so that also is a popular excuse I tout. Although I have found that while performing these menial tasks, is when I come up with ideas that I write about.  Go figure.

"I don't run unless someone is chasing me; then it depends on what he looks like."  I'm married, so these days I usually leave off the latter part of that statement; out of courtesy for my husband.  Just never enjoyed running or jogging; other than a game of tag. 

"F_ _k  A  Duck!"  My fav of many years, I have said too many times to count.  Cleaned up for kids' sake I made a small change: "Muck a Duck."  I confess I relish the times that I can use the original.

"Gimme a f_ _kin' break!" Another one said too many times to count; 99% of the time, said to inanimate falling objects, trying packaging, or the industrious spiders that inhabit my house.

"Mind your own garden."  Usually said to my two daughters.   Just sounds a tad nicer than mind your business.

"Keep your nose out of my privates, unless you're making me happy."  Can be construed one of two ways.  Both apply.

"Oh Bulsh!"  I remember Sadie retorting this to any piece of news she disagreed with or when she thought something was pretentious, overbearing or tasteless.  Given my issue with scatological words, I like it cause it gets the idea across, without saying something offensive.

Gotta mention this, however I cannot claim it as my own.   My great great Aunt Urse, who was Sadie's maternal aunt, said to folks who inquired how she was doing, replied with a sly smile and a twinkle in her eye, "Well, everyone I can, and the easy ones twice."  The fact that she was 90 somethin' at the time, and lived a few years beyond, I have always taken as a testament to how much a benefit a great sense of humor is.