An Engagement... Texas Style

We have some longtime friends whose daughter is engaged to a charming young man from Ft. Worth, the hometown of her mother as well. All of our children went to the same private school and grew up together during summers at the lake, as they had the house just up the hill from our house. I had a boy and girl and they had three girls, all within a few of years of one another. Those were such magical years in our lives.

Every single summer (when the kids weren't at camp) they would put on *shows* for us that were always a hoot to watch. They were always far more entertaining than TV or anything else. They all learned to water ski together. They rode the tubes behind the boat together, they all got thrown off the water weenie together. Now, the oldest of the brood is getting married. The bride is the kiddo in the middle.

So Saturday was a kitchen/recipe shower (the first of many), which I attended. I was hesitant about going (because I don't get invited so much these days and am never sure how to dress) but, as it turns out, I'm so glad I went! I saw so many people I've missed seeing for a very long time. I wore an off-white shirt-waist dress that has a wide brown belt with brown patent/cork sling-back peep-toe wedges I'd bought over a year ago and had never worn and I felt confident in my *look*.

There was also a cocktail party the same night that included many people I thought I didn't care about seeing. As it turns out, I was so wrong. We had a splendid time and talked to friends we had not seen in years. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little worlds that we forget how much fun it is to celebrate with friends. To that party I wore an adorable black DKNY sleeveless sheath dress with sheer black stockings and black beaded high heels, with my good jewelry. I also added a black shawl because the weather has still been cool at night.

The funny thing is, every single person I talked to said the same thing as I, in answer to "Where have you been and what have you been doing?" We've all been hanging out at home, getting to know our spouses again, since the kids have gone. That truly cracked me up. I thought I was the only one...

What A Year 2009 Is Going To Be....

If New Year's Eve was any indication of how the New Year is going to pan out, then I'm going to be a Happy Camper. We went to a fun party and were home by 1:00 AM, which is actually rather late for those of us who are dangerously approaching the geriatric age. Still, it was a fun, casual party. This was the host couple --> It was great not having to get dressed up for the party!



I took my Texas Caviar and also did the Grapes & Champagne Thing suggested by Cathy of Noble Pig. Everyone had nothing but sweet grapes, which means we're all going to have a great 2009, right? Right? Well, that's what I'm rolling with anyway. There's nothing like starting the year off with a happy, positive outlook, is there? It certainly doesn't hurt.






However, the fun we had at our little party paled in comparison to the party our daughter went to at the country club. As it turned out, her friend's Dad got married yesterday so their party turned out to be a surprise wedding reception. And get this... Lyle Lovett and his band played for the party, as did Austin's own Jack Ingram (who I'm crazy about). I just about died when SD told me, because I also like Lyle Lovett and have never gotten to see him in concert. She said they really rocked the house!












This is a picture of our daughter just before the limo came to pick her up. She spent half the day yesterday spray painting her crutches gold and adding a rather redneck looking cup holder. It was absolutely hysterical and she said people were commenting on it throughout the night. Hmmm... Wonder what they really thought.









So I'm sitting here having my New Year's Day Mimosa with my favorite French champagne, which is just one more New Year's tradition in my world. It won't be long until nap time....





I think we did around 50 Champagne Poppers, which laid to rest all over everyone, but they were the most harmless fireworks I could find.

Here's wishing everyone nothing but good things for the coming year!

Memories of Halloween... In Pictures

These are some pictures of the Halloween party we went to with all of our golfing buddies. Some of the usual suspects were missing, but it was still pretty wild and lots of fun...



The Host and Hostess (never to be outdone) were dressed as either Caesar and Cleopatra or Anthony and Cleopatra. It doesn't matter, really. They played their roles to the hilt and they looked marvelous:







I went as ... Who Else? MOMMY DEAREST (Joan Crawford) with wire hanger in hand, while Mr. Snooty went cleverly disguised as the man Joan Crawford married, who owned Pepsi or something. Be sure to click the pictures for better details.








Here's another picture of Mr. Snooty. I thought he looked kinda Bad Boy Hot.











The damned Zorro beat me to the punch on pictures:











Next, we were paid a surprise visit from June Carter and Johnny Cash. I figure he had a grand old time, being dead and all:




No, this isn't a scene from "Brokeback Mountain". Just some tipsy (okay drunk) friends having... ummmmm... Fun!?

We left at a reasonable hour. Like 9:00 PM. Go Figure... Still, it was a great party, making this a Great Halloween.

Help Me Pull It Together! A Contest...

I don't understand how I could have forgotten about this cocktail party we're going to tomorrow night. Forget the fact that the invitation is there in plain sight on the board in the kitchen that I pass by umpteen times every day. Forget the fact that it is also written down on our calendar that I also pass by umpteen times every day. The worst of this is that it's a party celebrating the upcoming wedding of the son of my best friend Susan, who died two years ago on April 26, 2006, from complications from her diabetes Her death was unexpected & totally out of the blue. She was one of the funniest, wittiest & smartest women I've ever known. This picture is (L to R) of my daughter, me, my son, "C" and Sus... a long time ago.

I'm not going to go into what a miserable day, week, month, or year that was; just know that it sucked, BIG TIME. Anyway, her son is getting married to the girl of his dreams on April 26, 2008, which they are doing to honor his Mom. He & my kids grew up together. His mother was my best friend. How could I have possibly forgotten that this big cocktail party was coming up?

Susan's son *C* joined the Marine Reserves about 3 months before the events of 9/11 tried to tear our our world apart; much to the misery of his parents. While he was in Iraq his girlfriend *A* finished college & started on her masters. *C* finally came home for the last time and he joined *A* @ TxTech and finished the college he'd started before going w/ the reserves. Since graduating he has begun work on his masters degree as well, and they are at last getting married. So, how the hell could my brain have forgotten this special cocktail party? It's almost like forgetting my own child's party & it just makes me feel as if I've fallen down & bumped my pumpkin too hard on the ground, at some point that I'm not aware of. Oh Wait! That's called aging, isn't it? Well crap! I never thought it would start this soon.

Since noticing that this is happening far too often to me lately, I've taken up doing crossword puzzles (shit, I thought only old people & nerdy types did that) and playing word games & puzzles online, in a panicked effort to try & save whatever brain cells I have left. I suppose it's going to take a bit more time that I'd anticipated. Bummer there.

ANYWAY... here is my big dilemma. I can't decide what to wear. (Shut Up! It is too important!) Now, mind you, my poor feet are almost healed from the L.A. trip, but still vulnerable to newly inflicted pain. (In other words, the scab on my toe hasn't been rubbed long & hard enough to become a callous, thank gawd.) If I had remembered that I had an important cocktail party to go to tomorrow night, I would have been planning what I'm going to wear for the last week. Yes, I suppose you might say I'm anal retentive that way, but now I'm freaking out because I'm not sure I have the appropriate thing to wear. The invitation looks like this and is at the home of a friend (a very nice home).

Sooooooo.... I thought I'd do a little contest of sorts. I'm going to show you pictures of the choices of outfits I have to wear, depending on what I can put together, because I still haven't hit the cleaners since back from L.A. & I don't do one-day cleaners. Period. I'll number each outfit 1,2,3,4 and so on. You choose which one you like the best and leave a comment with your number choice for each different. The contest will end tomorrow at exactly 5:00 p.m., which will still give me around two hours to get dressed.

Now, here's the tricky part. It's going to be kind of like playing with paper dolls, in that you can switch the jewelry, the tops, the skirts, the footwear and the belts in order to come up with your final approved outfit. Or maybe you like them exactly as I show them. Whatever, so when you say what number outfit you're voting for (which should be the closest to your final choice) you then say what those changes are, if any.

I'll make the final decision by 5:00 p.m., wear the winning outfit and announce the winner when we return home after 9:00 p.m. I'll also let you know if it was a bust or a smash. But to tell you the truth, I think I look great in every one of them & feel even better when I wear them. So, they are all on even ground in my eyes. Same with accessories. Love them! Same with shoes! Oh Wait! Nevermind. But they are all on even ground, since they all hurt, lol. Unfortunately, you never quite know what cocktail means in this town.

So, I'm sure you're all like salivating to jump on this one, huh? Don't get too excited until you hear what the prize is. Well, how's this? A ride in the car with my hubby's 90+year old grandad as he whirls around town @ centrifugal speed, terrifying the young & old alike, straddling (and then some) that faithful old yellow line. What? That doesn't tweak your interest? Okay, fine and probably a good thing since he passed away back in 1988. That might be a scary ride indeed.

Ok. So the only other items I have of value (that I'm willing to give away) are my collegiate floorcloths & collegiate trinket boxes. I'll even make three Place Winners, being 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place. The 1st winner may have their choice of any collegiate floorcloth & trinket box. The 2nd may have a choice of any collegiate floorcloth. The 3rd may have their choice of any collegiate trinket box. (This is assuming that I have three or more entries, lol.) You can click on the pictures to see the larger image & details. And hey, even if you don't want one of my freebies, just tell me what you think. I NEED HELP!

This is #1

This is #2









This is #3









This is #4

This #5

This is the jewelry I'll be using.