Lets Wrap Things Up

It’s unbelievable but true 2012 is coming to an end and the dreaded 2013 is just a couple of hours away…. Ole´
Some say that the number 13 is unlucky and other say it’s ok…. Whatever it is it’s a number that we cannot avoid for 12 whole months, so that means we have to live with it!!!

The year 2012 was a rather interesting one with all the events and also a rather sad one too with all the tragic things happening around the world. I have been looking for the past couple of days for good things that has happened in 2012 and believe me they are few and far between…. A sad thing indeed! There are sooooo many sad events that I could list that I would be writing for the next couple of days, and so I’ll just leave it.

I can only speak for myself and say that 2012 wasn’t that bad and it brought some fond memories back to life in my brain and I started doing some things that I never imagined doing in my life… But I was brave and jumped into the cold water and gave it a try. Trying that’s what counts in life.

I am not going to jump on the bandwagon of folks who say “In 2013 I need to make a New Year’s resolution”… Sure it sounds good, but really now…. How many people honestly stick with it???? I am pretty sure not toooooo many. Or am I wrong???? I am just going to take the year as it comes and make the best of things…. Sounds good but for how long??? But I know myself

Anyways, whatever is going on in your life; I wish everyone good health and happiness for the New Year 2013

Dinner Disasters

Well dinner disasters can happen on that all important day of the year but since I was soooooo organized it really didn’t faze me; ok, I lied here it did upset me a bit but hey .. Who’s perfect???

My turkey was the highlight of the table at our place and all the other stuff that went with it too, and not to mention that I had maybe had a glass or two – tooooo many of some alcoholic beverage that seemed to send my brain to another plant and not let it concentrate on the important things at hand …… like cooking!!!!

Everything was on track until I smelt a mysterious odor coming from the kitchen. A note: I had apples baking in the oven filled with rum raisins and marzipan. Here timing was essential but somehow my thoughts were not on those apples and you can guess what happened next??????

Bingo….. The apples had taken on a somewhat brownish black color and the marzipan was definitely well done to say the least! I believe everything should be thoroughly baked then no chance any bacteria.

Once I managed to make my way to the kitchen and discover that my lovely apples weren’t so lovely anymore and there was definitely a funny color smoke building up inside the oven I knew then and there the desert would have to be something else…. But what???? Thank goodness that I had some ice cream in stock to save the day and the best part was no one really remembered what I said earlier about baked apples…… The wonders of conversation and drink!!!

Ok, everyone was happy with the ice cream and then someone had to have an espresso which really threw my concept right out the window!!! Espresso…. Did I have any espresso coffee and where the heck did I put the espresso machine???? I knew it was in the basement, but where??? Panicking I went down stairs and found it staring at me from the shelf and so espresso could be served… Thank goodness! I needed a sherry after that shock!!!

Then after serving everyone their espresso … sorry there was no famous actor at our house to drink it with us; just a bunch of normal folks having a good time!!

And the best bit was and please note this- I didn’t have enough espresso coffee, so I mixed normal coffee with it and I can say it tasted really good too and no one complained either. Just a tip if you are ever caught short of not having enough espresso coffee mix regular coffee with it.

But all in all I managed and had a good time on that hectic day and that was the most important thing!

Seasons Greetings

First of all, I would like to thank all of you who have decide to follow my blog and also all those folks out there for reading it.

So, with this little post I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. And health & lots of happiness and success for the New Year 2013 too!

Enjoy your holiday season where ever you are in the world.

Seasons greetings to all,
sue

What’s Cooking?

What’s cooking for the meal for that big day can be a tremendous feat if you are not organized to the last second or at least I think so???? Everyone seems to be running around trying to get those last minute things for their Christmas meal or the last minute present because they forgot someone on their list. Well, those things can happen….. I am saved from this dilemma this year because I am for ONCE in my life organized and believe me I find it hard to believe myself but it is true!!!

My guy asked me this morning if I was feeling ok, because I am soooooo organized this year. I told him that I thought for once in my life I want to be organized and have time for everybody on the 25th instead of spending all my time running around doing something. I want a relaxed Christmas and so I will have it!!!! No questions asked here- that is my decision!!!

My tree is decorated and the food is purchased and all my presents are bought; so Christmas you can come to our house. Who says life has to be stressful at this time of year??? Ok, I know thousands of people around the world would argue this point with me, but with a little foresight and planning there is no stress and hey if something goes wrong on the 25th then it goes wrong. I am too old to worry about what everyone thinks of how I do things around my place and if something burns on the stove top then it can be either forgotten or I’ll make something else to replace it… life can be so simple!

My mom was amazing when it came to organizing our Christmas dinner on the 25th and she always remained cool and served up a super meal in my eyes! Mom – thanks for all those great turkey dinners you made us. I know I can cook pretty good but my mom’s Christmas dinner can still top mine. Plus, I’ve never been as organized as she was and thought this year I’ll try her strategy and see if it works….. Please let it work and I’ll be the happiest person on earth

Another thing, I read all those articles about how stressed folks are or will be on the 25th. I always wonder are people stressed so then they have something to talk about or what is it??? Even when I am not organized I don’t feel stressed-out. I think society puts too much emphasis on stress and so everyone is convinced that on the 25th you have to be stressed instead of taking things as they come and enjoying life for a change.

So, relax and take things as they come because then there won’t be any stress and enjoy the day when it’s there!

Sleigh Bells are Ringing

Oh there are only 10 until those sleigh bells can be heard outside your house and Santa will slide down your chimney and fill your stocking. I hope everyone has been good this year and not misbehaved…….

Those were great times when I was I kid crossing off the days on the calendar and hoping that I wouldn’t do anything that would upset Santa Claus… I wanted him to stop by our house and so for me being good in December was on top of my list and not to forget the mile long wish list that I wrote too with all the stuff that I thought I needed.
When I think back to the things that I wished for it seems light years away because when I see what kids wish for today my toys seemed so dull and boring to them. But for me they were action packed with adventure and brought me and my friends’ hours of fun!!! I loved my toys

There on my list when I was young were dolls and a baby buggy or some great piece of clothing to dress my doll in or a cassette with some cool music on it (Cassette – what’s that????) or there were the wonderful books full of adventure that took place in unknown places around the world – making my fascination run wild and letting me be part of something that I wouldn’t experience at home. Sometimes a dress would be under the tree that I could wear on Christmas day. Do little girls still wear those??? Santa was always so thoughtful. Or if I was really lucky there would be all kinds of chocolate stuffed in my stocking and the healthy orange( that was something that was always in it)…… oh those wonderful childhood memories!!!

I knew on Christmas Eve that when I placed the note beside the plate of cookies and a glass of milk on the kitchen table for Santa that there would be some great things in store for me on Christmas day…… Though sometimes I was soooooo excited that it seemed to take ages to fall asleep and my mom would always say “You must try to sleep or Santa won’t stop by.” How could she say that??? I was so excited about that jolly guy stopping by our house that I just couldn’t fall asleep; but sooner or later I did and would wake up and go down stairs to see a wonderfully lit Christmas tree and all the presents from Santa Claus under it. And Santa was such a great guy that he always left something for our dog Cesar too! So, I knew the Cesar must have been friends with Santa.

So, I am just going to count the days now and make my wish list and hope that all my wishes come true even though I know that guy Santa Claus says I am toooooo old but hey, Who said you can’t enjoy the spirit of Santa at any age.?

I Forgot My Phone

The worst thing has happened to me today that could make my life come to an end…. What you ask??? I forgot my cell phone at home and I was exposed to the world as it was years ago. A scary experience to say the least!

But thank goodness that my brain still works and I could remember all the important telephone numbers. Ok, I’ll admit I had a tad of a problem with some email addresses but then after about 20 minutes they finally dawned on me… What a relief!!!

And I must say “Thank you brain.” My faithful companion that has been with me for years!

Though most people I met throughout the day could not fathom how I managed to survive and acted as if that was the mortal end of life because I forgot my cell phone at home….. How could I do that???? To be honest I almost gave myself a heart attack when I noticed that my trusty cell phone wasn’t there in my handbag and I knew that I had forgotten my faithful companion at home on the counter….. There all by its self on the counter ringing away and no one was there to answer it… I was rather thoughtless forgetting my beloved cell phone! Wasn’t I?

But once I was able to pull myself together; I thought ok, if you want to speak to me you can call my office number – so use it!

Somehow my lunch was enjoyable without that menacing thing there hanging around my neck (literal sense). I was really free to eat and chat without having the feeling I need to look at the screen of my dumb phone. How wonderful life can be!!!

Later on at a meeting…. Note: I was on time!!! This happened without being reminded by my cell phone… The wonders of my brain!

Ok, like always there is someone there whose humor isn’t how I see things and said to me “How did you remember the meeting without being reminded by your cell phone?” At first I would have liked to punch the guy – but I thought the better of it. I thought to myself that was a sad and stupid question, because isn’t that why we have a brain to remember things with??? Or has it been replaced by the cell phone??

A very interesting question indeed……

But now my day has come to an end and now at home I see my faithful cell phone just blinking away waiting patiently for me to pick it up and see who called. So, If I missed your call today sorry!

A Christmas Card Sent To Me

Christmas cards seem to be something of the past. Remember years ago when friends, family and acquaintances sent you a Christmas card. Those were great cards with the same saying but always with a great different picture on it. Those were Christmas cards!!!

Somehow, you can still buy Christmas cards but no one seems to send them out like they used too. Back in my younger days my parents got literally loads of cards wishing them or all of us a Merry Christmas or Seasons greetings or whatever else was written on them. And nowadays I seem to be lucky if I get 3 Christmas cards….. The real sort I mean that you get delivered and they land in your mail box and you can display them proudly on the mantle.

What do I get now….. Some crumby electronic thing that I will delete after a couple of days…. Don’t misunderstand me here. I am happy that the sender thought of me but that still cannot replace that great piece of paper staring at you from the mantle piece and all the other cards there too biding for your attention to pick it up and read it again or when family or friends come over and they too head for the Christmas cards to see what you have received in the way of Christmas greetings…. Oh paper Christmas card don’t disappear from our mantle piece. I need you there to bring the peace and joy that makes the Christmas cheer for my living room ohhh dear!

I know that this whole Christmas card deal costs money and takes time but isn’t time that we take time for those lovely Christmas cards that could be displayed so proudly and enjoyed because the person who sent it to you or the person you sent one to can see that you took time or they took time and isn’t that part of the holiday season to take time???

Enjoy your real paper Christmas cards and remember someone took time to write it and send it to you!

A LITTLE BIT OF WINTER

A bit of winter in Hamburg, Germany.
Photos taken by me

A typical Christmas Market Stand

Lovely wooden carved nativity scene

Hamburg skyline

Hamburger Dom

GREAT TIE FOR THAT GUY?

I know that recently I have been somewhat lax on writing about great things for guys, so I thought this here would make up for my thoughtlessness…. Sorry guys. There are guys who have to wear ties and this can be especially aggravating if it isn’t the right sort of tie. Who said ties have to be borning??? Not me!!!

Well, your worries are solved with the flask tie…. I’m not well versed on how it actually looks but it seems to take on the features of a normal tie except that it has a special spot for your schnapps or whatever you want to nip at discreetly in the tie itself.. My guy needs one of these for the office to create a bit of cheer.

You guys thought that the trouser beer pouch was something but this may top it for the executives out there who don’t want to unzip their trousers at a meeting for a quick beer, so instead they can open up the little flask in their tie and enjoy a small shot of whiskey or whatever it is they are carrying around with them in their tie. My how times are changing…… flasks aren’t like they used to be.

Ok, guys and gals I will give you a short version of how I see this great tie flask and I am sure it could be something worth putting under the tree this year for your guy who has everything except a flask tie!

Ok, you must carefully fill it up and not toooo much because the plastic pouch may not hold too much and then your tie will bulge and not hang properly. That I see as a major problem guys! Ok, we’ll over look this minor setback and concentrate on the positive features that it has.

There you are at and important meeting and there seems to be a bit of a lull and no one is really saying much, so you think “AH” let’s have a little nip of whiskey and there you go the boring meeting is already cheered-up and the other guys there are waiting for you to get your flask out and serve up some drinks. No, that’s the surprise here and believe me those guys will be really amazed and jealous too when they see that you have a sewn in flask in your tie and can give everyone a thimble size shot…. That’s a meeting at its best… RIGHT???? No more dull boardroom meetings but now there’s the competition of who has the best flask tie meeting and this can brighten things up! Now an important fact to remember is no cut rate cheap stuff only the best whiskey can be decanted into your tie.

Another thing you must watch out for is that no one bumps into you or else your tie could bust and that is the end of your flask tie and you smell like a brewery…. That is definitely a horrid thought because if that happened your meeting is ruined and maybe your career too… The troubles with ties… I am glad I am not a guy.

I know this isn’t really some earth moving thing but for guys who wear ties it could be and if you are out with your tie on you can always discreetly- I emphasize again discreetly take a nip from your tie when you feel like it. Otherwise, folks may wonder what you are up too with your tie and believe me I am sure people could imagine many a thing and it would not be that your tie had a flask it. So do take heed when out and about and if you are on a date I am sure the gal will be sooooo impressed with the tie that she will definitely want to have a second date with you, because I am sure the gal doesn’t get asked out too often by guys who have flask ties.

So gals if your guy has to wear a tie to work maybe this is something that is a must have for all tie wearing guys out there. So, guys don’t forget to put this nifty tie on your wish list from Santa and by all means please let me know what everyone thinks of it.
Enjoy your ties guys!

THE FIRST SNOWFLAKES

Oh the first snowflakes are in the air and how lovely and white the ground does seem. Those first snowflakes every year are such a wonderful sight to behold and always bring back memories of my childhood where I would run outside to try to catch the very first flakes of snow.

Those were wonderful times back then when I was all packed in my snow suit and would run outside and try to catch the snowflakes that were falling from the sky. But I would be sooooo sad when those wonderful flakes of snow melted in my hand and I would stare at my hand and think “Why did you melt little snow flake? – You looked so pretty to me.”

I never understood the scientific aspect of snowflakes when I was a small child and nor did they interest me either. All I saw was some great white stuff falling from the sky! And that was all that mattered and it meant that winter was on its way and I hoped the snow would stay on the ground so that Santa Claus could make his way to our house with his sleigh. Very important you know for small kids and I was a firm believer that that guy Santa Claus existed!!!

Then the time came when I found out that those magical snowflakes falling from the sky were frozen ice crystals… well, that just broke my bubble of the mystical powers of those wonderful flakes, and then to top it off the same year I was informed that there wasn’t any Santa Claus. I knew then and there life would never be the same for me without those mystical snowflakes and the jolly guy who slides down the chimney to deliver the Christmas presents. How could life be sooo hard on me????

But somehow I forgot about all the scientific stuff and just started to enjoy the wonders of the snowflakes that were falling from the sky because knew they look so lovely and pristine to me and each one wasn’t the same so I knew they were falling just for me… my very own snowflakes!!!!

Enjoy the first snow fall if you live where there is snow and look at all those lovely snowflakes falling softly towards us…. I still love the first snowflakes!