Saturday Night Serenade–Thankful

Where has the time gone? Seems like it was just summer, and here we are just days away from Thanksgiving. 2019 has been a wild year for us. We’ve battled a serious financial downturn, spent sleepless nights worrying, struggled to hang on to our house, realized we had to let it go before it pulled us under, faced the uncertainty of ‘now what‘…

Even so, I can honestly say that I’m thankful. I believe that everything happens for a reason–nothing is random or willy-nilly. There’s always something to learn, an opportunity to grow.

I’m thankful we were able to sell the house and walk away with a little money in our pockets. I’m thankful for the cute little apartment we found in a really cool neighborhood. I’m thankful for the possibilities ahead of us.

I suppose most of all, I’m thankful for us. Throughout this entire ordeal, the best thing we had going for us was each other. Turns out, we make a great team, even through thin.

So Thursday, when we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner (with my son who’s coming in from Omaha! 🙂 ), we have a ton of reasons to give thanks.

For tonight’s serenade, I had to go with Kelly Clarkson’s Thankful. I hope you enjoy it, and that your Thanksgiving is special. Be sure to hug those you love.

Happy Saturday night!

Saturday Night Serenade–We Need a Little Christmas

Happy last Saturday of November!
If you’re in the US, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Here at Chez R, we had a nice, peaceful day, with a delicious meal for which we were truly thankful.

Have you ever felt like you need a little Christmas?
We live in Palm Beach County, and we just survived a nasty, contentious election season that ended with the recount from Hell.  Ultimately, I stopped caring about who won or lost.  Just get the friggin’ thing over with, and let’s get on with our lives.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of the fact that we’re all on the same side.  We all love our country, and we believe in liberty and justice for all.  We all love our families, and we want to leave behind us a world that’s better than the one into which we were born.  It’s beyond disheartening to see everything turned into Us vs Them.

To be honest, I was ready to decorate for Christmas back in September.  I just wanted a little something to lift the spirits, to distract from the angry, spiteful, false, fear-based rhetoric lambasting us from all sides.

But this holiday weekend, Mr. R and I finally dragged in all the boxes from the garage and set up the tree.  He decorated the fireplace (since it’s still in the 80s, we won’t be needing it anytime soon), and we have a start on the outside lights.  Because we need a little Christmas now.

This version of the holiday classic is from the 1974 movie Mame, and it features the divine Lucille Ball.  If you need a little Christmas like I do, this should be just the thing.

I’ll leave you with a photo of our finished tree.  Normally there’s a cat curled up beneath it, but she must have wandered off.  It’s covered with ornaments we’ve gathered over the years, and things the kids made somewhere along the line.  Those are the most special decorations, now that they’re grown and out on their own.

I hope you’re still enjoying this long holiday weekend.  Be sure to hug the ones you love.

Happy Saturday night!

 

 

Black Friday/Small Business Saturday SALE!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope your holiday was fabulous.

Now we’re ready for shopping season.  Black Friday deals are already underway, and Saturday is Small Business Saturday.

Did you realize that an Indie author is a small business?  Buying an Indie book is the literary equivalent of shopping local.

Before the holiday season gets out of hand with all the craziness, I have a great deal for you.  Why not treat yourself to the entire Rannigan’s Redemption trilogy for just 99¢?

The deal is only on Amazon, and it’s only good Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24.  After that, it returns to regular price.

Just click HERE to get your copy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Warm Thanksgiving wishes to you and your family.
Have a wonderful holiday.

Saturday Night Serenade–Thinking Out Loud

Ready or not, it’s the holiday season.  Seems like as soon as the Trick or Treaters trotted home with their sugar-inducing haul, retailers shifted into holiday mode.  Like aging rocker Billy Mack says, “Christmas is all around us, and so the feeling grows.”

But first, here in the States, we’re gearing up for Thanksgiving this Thursday.  I love Thanksgiving.  I love the way the aroma of turkey roasting in the oven permeates the whole house.  I love to watch the Macy’s parade on television, especially the Broadway performances on the street right in front of the store.  I love the roll-out of classic holiday movies, like Love Actually.

More than that, though, I appreciate having a reminder to be thankful for all the ways I’m blessed.  And I am.  I’m a lucky girl.  I’m healthy, I have a great home, this year I walked away from a job I hated to live the dream of being a full-time writer.

On the domestic front, having survived a season in hell, I’m living my happily-ever-after with a man who loves me more than life itself.  When I first heard Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, I thought of us, and how thankful I am that we found each other.  Here’s a little snippet of the lyrics.

When your legs don’t work like they used to before
And I can’t sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you ’til we’re 70
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I’m thinking ’bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So, honey, now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I’m thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are

Our lives aren’t perfect.  We worry about finances.  We have two out of three collective adult children who currently aren’t speaking to us (gotta love millennials).  But we have each other, and we’re a great team.  And so I’m thankful.

Just thinking out loud.  Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Be sure and hug those you love.  Happy Saturday night!

Oh, and as a bonus, here’s your old Uncle Billy.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We’re having a quiet holiday here at Chez R.  We went out yesterday and bought a new Christmas tree, all pre-lit with the option of clear or colored lights at the flip of a switch.  We also got strings of colored lights for the outside.  This morning, I spent an hour or so decorating the tree while Mr. R. risked life and limb hanging lights on the front of the house.  That’s right, we’re getting all festive up in here.

Dinner will be later in the afternoon, just the two of us.  My sons are out in the mid-west living their own lives.  Matter of fact, my Airman daughter-in-law is deployed this holiday, so if you think about it, maybe shoot up a little prayer for her safety and a swift return.

We have lots to be thankful for, Mr. R. and I.  First of all, we have each other.  We’re reasonably healthy, we have enough, and we’re realizing we’re at a point in our lives where we have options.  In the new year, we’re planning on exploring a few of those possibilities, and we’ll be sharing with you along the way.

I’m also eternally grateful for your friendship and companionship throughout the year.  While the world seems to have lost its mind, I’ve met the nicest, kindest, funniest, smartest, strongest folks right here on WordPress, and I want you to know that I appreciate you all.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!  ❤

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I Have Writ…A Pome

Ode To Sweatpants

Oh, sweatpants, my sweatpants, you’re a favorite fall friend.
On cool days you’ve got me all covered, in the end.

You’re soft and you’re flexible; you never judge.
Even after I indulge so much I can’t budge.

So this holiday week, I’ll keep you in mind.
I’d never go off and leave you behind.

This Thursday you’ll find me a grateful lass,
I’m ever so happy that you fit my…lifestyle.

–An original poem by Pandora Spocks

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. R. and I are feeling blessed and we’re appreciative for all good things in our lives, not the least of which would be each other.

Maybe the most pressing thing we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is that we just learned, literally within the last five minutes, that Mr. R. starts his new job on Dec. 7 at 9:00am, EST.  Many thanks for those who kept us in your thoughts and prayers, and for your various crossed appendages.

I hope you spend the day with those you love and that you let go of your worries and cares for a while.  They’ll still be there later on.

But enjoy the small moments today.  And the turkey.  Lots and lots of turkey.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

No, Thank You

Here in the US we’re on the eve of Thanksgiving, that day we’ve set aside to gather with family and friends as we count our blessings and express our gratitude for the past year.

Thanksgiving Day can also be considered Black Friday Eve, the day when frugal shoppers pore over store sale flyers and plot their Christmas shopping strategy like the Allies D-Day invasion of Normandy. You know, the 50-inch tv for $200. The tablet for $20. Local news showed people camping out in front of our local Best Buy on Tuesday.

I for one will be nowhere near all the pandamonium. I hate crowds of people on a good day. And there’s absolutely nothing I need worth sleeping out in front of a store for three days.

Here are things I’d rather do than go shopping on Black Friday: Sleep late beside my sweet. Watch the Macy’s parade on tv. Organize the plastic containers and lids. Chew off my own arm. Have a root canal.

Is all of my shopping done? Of course not. But I can shop online 24/7/365. And I don’t have to camp out in my living room.