November 25th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

Good Morning! Well, the 4:00 am thing didn’t exactly work out for me this morning. I drank entirely too much caffeinated sweet tea last night, to be able to fall asleep early enough, to be able to wake up at four. I think I hit the snooze button at least five times before I actually got out of bed.

We all went to my son’s house yesterday. He and his girlfriend Alex hosted the Dallas vs. Giants football party this time around. Let me tell you, sixteen people in that tiny Cape Cod is an experience. There were people everywhere. It was a noisy ruckus, with a lot of yelling and laughing, and for the folks watching the game, even a little bit of cursing… on both sides. It was a house divided almost equally of Giants fans and Cowboys fans and Food fans (several were there just for the food and family and could care less about football). It was nice not being grossly outnumbered for once, but I didn’t even watch the game. For some reason this season, when I watch, my Giants lose. Unfortunately yesterday, I poked my head in to sneak a peek at the end, and well, y’all know how that turned out…

While all that rowdiness was going on in the living room, Alex was running around making food, serving food, cleaning up food, making and serving more food. I kept asking if she wanted help and she kept saying, “No, it’s ok. I got it,” but you could tell she was getting tired. She and my son had been busting their butts for days preparing for the party. I finally managed to nudge her out of the way so I could at least wash some dishes for her.

I get it. I remember what it was like when I hosted my first parties when I was young. I wanted to do everything, but then, with age I came to realize some of my guests actually felt more welcome if they were allowed to help when they offered to help. Did it really matter if the carrots went in the wrong section of the cru de te dish or if the cheese was in squares instead of cracker sized rectangles? No, it didn’t, and when I realized that, parties went a lot smoother. Helping made my guests happy, and it helped me. When Alex gets a few more parties under her belt, I’m sure she’ll come to the same conclusion. In the meantime, I just keep offering to help, and do the dishes when she’s not looking.

I spent quite a bit of time chatting with my son’s friend Mike’s girlfriend Ashley last night. I had met her briefly in October, and she seemed nice, but we didn’t really have time to talk then. Well, we did last night, and she confirmed my first impressions. She is nice. I’m glad Mike has found a great girl, and I’m glad we get along with her. This is especially helpful since my son informed me last night that Mike and Ashley will be joining us for Thanksgiving.

Actually, I’m thrilled they’re coming. I’ll confess now, I was kinda depressed when I thought I was only hosting Thanksgiving for nine this year. Heck, I could have nine for dinner on a random Tuesday night. There’s nothing special about that, and Thanksgiving should be special. So, now with Mike and Ashley coming, arrangements made so my aunt and uncle are now coming (my uncle had shoulder surgery and wouldn’t have been able to drive), that brings us up to thirteen. All I’m waiting on now is to hear if our friends Barb and John are coming. If so, that puts us at fifteen, and for me, makes it feel more like a holiday. True it’s half the number I used to host for Thanksgiving, but I’ll take it.

So here’s the game plan I came up with for the next three days. I get up early, do my blog while my daughter gets ready for school, write like a fiend from the time my husband leaves for work and my daughter comes home from her half day at school, then me and my daughters tackle one room each day – family room today, living room tomorrow, kitchen Wednesday, which will leave only the bathroom to clean on Thursday. If I stick to this plan there is a slim chance I may hit the 50K. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

I hope you have a great day and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

 This year you are able to go home for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years. When you get there, things feel just a little off…

 

From the moment I boarded the plane this morning and during the entire drive from the airport, I could barely sit still, which I’m sure made me one of the guy I was sitting next to on the plane’s favorite person. I’m sorry, but I was so excited. It has been years since I have been in the position to be able to come home for Thanksgiving. Either money was too tight or things were just too crazy at work and I couldn’t get away; two years, I wasn’t even in the country during Thanksgiving.

I’ve seen the family over the years. I’d meet up with them during my travels or they would come and stay with me for a few days, but this was the first time in forever we would all be under one roof.

As I pulled up in front of my parents’ house, the first thing I notice is my dad painted. For my entire life, we have had a white house with blue shutters. Now we have a blue house with white shutters. My folks are getting wild and crazy in their golden years. Dad’s going to get a kick out of the fact I had to double check the address to make sure I had pulled up in front of the right house.

I gather my luggage, headed inside and stop in my tracks. Gone were the beige walls, gone was the shabby furniture, and what replaced it looked like it had been torn from the pages of Country Living. The transformation was astounding. Maybe this isn’t the right house.

“Honey your home!” Mom squealed and wrapped me in a fierce hug.

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

The Black Friday experience…

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

September 13th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

 

It’s Friday the 13^th, and as the sun rises this morning over the Jersey shore and illuminates the utter devastation wrought by yesterday’s horrific fire, you can’t help but wonder if the supposed mystical powers of this day didn’t seep into the surrounding days.

 

I found myself, yet again, channel surfing to catch any and all information on the event as it unfolded. As the images filled the screen, I sat in shock, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, praying for the safety of the firefighters and for the people of the Seaside Heights community.

 

These poor people, haven’t they been through enough already? They were only just starting to recover from the effects of Super Storm Sandy, and now this. It is just heartbreaking!

 

However, New Jerseyans (or is it Jerseyites) are made of stern stuff. Yes this was a crushing blow, but it was not a knockout punch. When the smoke clears, they will pull up their bootstraps, roll up their sleeves, and dive right in to rebuilding. Everyone will rally around those affected and pitch in to help in whatever way they can. That’s what folks from New Jersey do. We have the reputation of being a brash breed, but when the chips are down, we are there to help a neighbor, no questions asked.

 

The hard part now is waiting to hear from the powers that be as to when, and what we can do to help. In the interim, I ask that you say a little prayer, to whomever you pray to, for the folks in Seaside Heights. Pray for strength, pray for compassion, and pray nothing else happens to make things any worse. While you’re at it, you might as well throw in one for the folks out in Colorado dealing with the massive flooding.

What’s next, pestilence? Locust? Sheesh!

Enough with the hellfire and brimstone; I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy writing! 

 

Your Last Challenge was:

It is the first really cold day and you decide you need your coat. You have not worn your coat since last winter. You put it on, reach in the pocket and find…

The homecoming game, an annual event in our town which brings out the masses, and this year it’s no different. High school graduates, new and old, plus current and upcoming students will fill the stands to bursting to root on our beloved and often triumphant Raiders. Preparation for this Saturday night game will take up a good chunk of the day, for much like college and professional football games, tailgating will be involved. Hours before the game is to begin, we will be out in the parking lot – occupying all of the slots so the rival team’s fans are forced to utilize the off campus parking – grillin’ and chillin’. Unlike major sporting events, no alcohol will be involved; but that will not dampen the festivities in the least.

As noon approaches, we make sure our car is packed and ready. As usual for homecoming, the evening promises to get quite cold, so while my husband locates our maroon and gold blankets – obviously only blankets sporting our school colors would do – I descend into the basement to unearth our ancient letterman jackets, jackets which only see the light of day once a year.

As is my habit, still in the basement where there are not witnesses, I try on my jacket to make sure it can still fasten. I button it up and put my hands in the pockets where I feel the familiar Ziploc bag and smile. The bag contains memories of homecomings past, over thirty years’ worth of ticket stubs. Memories of games won and lost, old friends, times both happy and sad, and some even bittersweet fill that little bag.

 

This is a fictional story although there are a few facts tossed in – our school colors are maroon and gold, we are the Raiders, up until hurricane Irene, my husband and I did have letterman jackets stored in our basement, and we do try to go to the homecoming game when we can, but there is no tailgating involved.

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

September 9th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

 

It’s Monday, September 9, 2013 and it is the first day of high school for my youngest daughter. It’s is 6 a.m. I have been up for an hour. She’s been up for half an hour, has already showered and is getting dressed. Next will come hair and make-up, and hopefully breakfast. Lunch has been made and packed. With the exception of pictures being taken today, this will be our schedule every weekday for the next 10 months. Ugh!

She is still very nervous about finding her way around the huge school. We highlighted a map yesterday and went over it, plus she typed into her phone a turn by turn guide to help get her through. My only worry is that when the school is packed with kids, everything is going to look completely different to her and she’ll be overwhelmed again. She’s a smart kid, she’ll figure it out if she just stops, takes a breath and doesn’t panic.

I will be leaving today at 10:30 to drive to Philly airport to pick up my son and his girlfriend. It’s going to be a LONG ride home with him razzing me about how his team beat my team last night 36 – 31. I’ll just have to remind him we are still 4 – 1 at his new overpriced ostentatious stadium.

 

Oh well, I need to go get dressed. We wouldn’t want to be seen in a fuzzy robe and slippers when the bus gets here at 6:45.

 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy writing!

 

 

I couldn’t quite get done with the blog before the bus came, so we have photos to post already. My baby on her first day of high school… where did the time go?

 

 

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

Describe the very first time you saw a movie on the big screen.

 

I remember my first trip to the movies vividly. It was a Saturday night in early October. I was five and a half. The movie was starting really late, like seven-thirty, so my mom made me put on my pajamas. They were pink and blue with little ruffles at the wrists and ankles. I also had on my blue fuzzy slippers with the butterflies on them. It was chilly, so my mom made me get my blanket and pillow too.

 

I was so excited, even then, I knew this was a rare treat because there was really no extra money for an extravagance like a movie. We drove the few blocks to the theatre and parked our car. Then my mom had me roll down my window a little and she got out of the car. The next thing I knew she was on my side balancing a little box on my window and telling me to roll the window up until she said stop. I wasn’t sure what it was all about, but I did what she said. She then got back in the car and did the same thing on her side. That’s when she told me they were the speakers so we could hear the movie.

 

Next she told me to stand up, then she put the pillow on the seat and had me sit on it. Now I could see clearly over the dashboard. Then she snuggled my blanket around me. She leaned into the back seat and pulled out some popcorn and drinks she had brought from home.

 

I took a bit of my first handful of popcorn as the movie began. The speakers popped and crackled. My mom did something and the car was filled with a cheery tune as I watched dancing soda cups and popcorn containers flit across the screen. I was thrilled, cartoons twice in one day. Then everything went black. Trumpets sounded. Lights flashed across the screen, then letters and the roar of a lion. My eyes were wide, my heart racing. I could barely stay seated on my pillow.

 

The first movie I ever saw was Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I don’t think I blinked the entire movie…well maybe at the end with the witch. That was really scary. Afterwards I remember trying to get birds to land on my finger and chipmunks to eat out of my hand, and I know I went around for weeks singing “Hi Ho” which I’m sure drove my mom batty. To this day, Snow White is still one of my favorites.

 

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

The first day of school…

 

 

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

September 8th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

 

It is another glorious day in Central New Jersey. Although I do not like the cold weather and the changing weather does send my back into spasms, I do love crisp nights and warm sunny days. Usually it means you’ve tired yourself out all day because you can get work done outside because there is no oppressive heat and then you sleep like a rock burrowed under the covers.

 

Unfortunately last night I wasn’t so lucky. This being only the second full day of this type of weather, my back was so cramped up, every time I went to move it was a breath stealing endeavor. I didn’t get a heck of a lot of sleep last night. Hopefully I will have better luck tonight.

 

Today is the first day of Sunday school at our church, and much to my daughter’s chagrin, she needs to get her butt out of bed to be there. She will be part of the Confirmation class and one of its requirements is Sunday school attendance. She grumbles and complains, but after she gets there and gets involved with the kids, she’s fine. I just wish we didn’t have to go through the song and dance beforehand.

 

When we get home from church, I am going to thaw out something to have for a good old fashioned Sunday dinner. I am going to straighten the house and make sure everything is finished before 7:30 so we can watch the Giants v. Cowboys game uninterrupted. What do you think the chances are of spotting my son at the game? LOL, yeah, I know, almost less than zero. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to try…

 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy writing!

 

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

Go ahead, close your eyes, make a wish and blow. I know you want to. I promise not to tell anyone.

 

Blowing dandelion wishes or popping the heads off when they are still yellow, holding buttercups up under your chin to see if they reflect alerting everyone you like butter, catching fireflies and keeping them in a mason jar; all precious moments from our childhood. Memories of a much simpler time; a time when our biggest worry was if we’d be allowed to stay up an extra half hour or if our grandmother would like the necklace we made her out of dandelion stems. A time we would all love to revisit.

 

But who says we can’t? What is stopping you from taking a moment to catch a firefly and let him go? From reaching down, grabbing a fat, yellow dandelion and thumb-popping the head to see how far it will fly? So next time you see a dandelion ball, pick it, bring it up to your mouth, close your eyes, make a wish and blow…

 

Your Next Challenge is:

 

Describe the very first time you saw a movie on the big screen.

 

  

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.