Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan


(click the title link above for the video)

For Kelly Corrigan, family is everything. At thirty-six, she had a marriage that worked, two funny, active kids, and a weekly newspaper column. But even as a thriving adult, Kelly still saw herself as the daughter of garrulous Irish-American charmer George Corrigan. She was living deep within what she calls the Middle Place—"that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap"—comfortably wedged between her adult duties and her parents' care. But Kelly is abruptly shoved into coming-of-age when she finds a lump in her breast—and gets the diagnosis no one wants to hear. When George, too, learns that he has late-stage cancer, it is Kelly's turn to take care of the man who had always taken care of her—and to show us a woman who finally takes the leap and grows up.

Friday, January 2, 2009

New Year's Resolutions for 2009 we'd like to see...

I busted a gut laughing out loud when I read these resolutions in the USA Today Dec 31 2008!

I resolve to ...


...live within my means, wean myself off credit, and read the fine print of my mortgage papers
- The American Consumer (and his government)

...take a vow of poverty
- The New York Yankees

...park the private jets
- Big Three Auto Makers

...keep one eye on the world, the other on Bill-particularly at 3 am
- Secretary of State Nominee Hillary Clinton

...get a license and pay my taxes
- Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher

...support the "Palin for 2012" movement
- Actress Tina Fey

...get stronger binoculars so I can keep an eye on them Russians.
- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

...think with my brain
- John Edwards

...serenade John with Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats
- Elizabeth Edwards

...teach fish to swim
- Olympian Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals

...remember that "shooting from the hip" isn't supposed to be a literal thing
- New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress

...put a trigger lock on the scissors
- Britney Spears

Thursday, January 1, 2009

"Joy to the World" - Suzanne's Famous Prime Rib!



Suzanne can cook, and isn't afraid to try out new recipes. This was her first prime rib, and it was tender, moist and medium rare to perfection! Great job Chef Suzanne!

Poor poor Mattie - she just wanted a throw down of a prime rib scrap.

Rem is about to spill the beans!


No such thing as Christmas secrets - Rem is dying to tell Suzanne what's in the box!

Hollywood Famous Advent Calendar!


Grif and Rem went to the Advent Calendar and found the last 2 treats on December 24 and as you can see, sang with joy! See the Advent Calendar on the door? If you've seen the movie "Four Christmases" with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, the exact same calendar is in the movie! Look close. It's there - I bought this advent calendar for Suzanne about 29 years from Avon - can you believe it? Now's it's famous and in Hollywood!

Christmas Eve Storm


It snowed and snowed and snowed - making it a white Christmas in southern Idaho. Here is a view from our front porch of the thick icicles hanging from the roof. It was beautiful, and very quiet outside. Magical time for Santa to come!

Lobster tails at the their best on Christmas Eve!

Christmas 2008


Don't you love Christmas? The spirit of Christmas, bringing families together, the excitement of the little ones, seeing new and old friends, delicious food, and a little time to reflect on the important things in life.

Here is our family that dined Christmas Eve on buttery lobster tails and boiled shrimp. Jeff, Suzanne, Mitch, Fred and Vicky - of course our Italian Grayhound, Rocco.