What are you doing for fun??

One of the most fun things in my life is my beautiful granddaughter, now age 2 1/2. Here is the face she made after being told by her aunt, my younger dd, to make a fierce biker face. How about that fierce pink tricycle?

Caryn, she's such a cutie! Grandchildren are THE BEST.

I had my Zomera infusion last Thursday. There is a wonderful organization that provides supportive tx to cancer patients - massages, reflexology, etc - and some of the volunteers come to the hospital where I get tx so I had a massage while I was getting my infusion. Sometimes the fun is where you find it.

Leah

Off to NYC this rainy morning for several days of shows, museums, holiday window displays (we never miss Bergdorf's extravaganzas) and too much walking!

Tina

Oh Tina, I'm very jealous! Have fun!

Tina,

Oh enjoy your annual trip to NYCity. When I was a child, growing up in the city, every year the family would discuss where we should go to see the "best" lights. All of us kids wanted to head to the Bronx where the lights included reindeer and santas; lots of garish colors. My parents always wanted to head towards 5th avenue for the tasteful white lights. I still don't understand why we couldn't do both during Advent. We had four full weeks after all. I live in a reindeer and santa neighborhood, but still love to head to the more "refined" neighborhoods of Boston to see the white lights.

*susan*

The town that I lived in and raised my children in has a annual holiday parade. It has a very small town feel, despite being in Silicon Valley. Scout troops, school bands, local civic organizations etc, all march in the parade. My dd's marched many times when they were young, but I hadn't been to the parade in many years. We decided to go this year, especially since we knew my granddaughter would enjoy it. I still teach in one of the local schools and, of course, understood that I would know many people marching as well as fellow spectators. It was a great parade and I was tickled pink to hear shouts of, Mrs.X !, Mrs X.! from so many of the marchers and lots of hugs and greetings from people just watching the parade. The folks next to us were amazed at how many marchers seemed to know me and finally asked me how this was possible. I told them I was a teacher at one of the local schools and knew kids and families from kindergarten through high school and beyond. I generally don't need external validation, but it sure felt good! It will be hard when I can no longer work, but I know my work has meant something to my community and I felt an enormous amount of love, happiness and pride today. On top of all that, I was with my two beautiful daughters and my lovely granddaughter (who loved every minute of the parade). I know I look forward to my travel, adventures and cruises, but this is the stuff that really enriches my life.

Caryn

Caryn, great post. You got it right. I really feel making memories withmy children and grandchildren is what I want to spend most of my good days doing. My 10 year old grandson and I baked sugar cookies on Sunday morning and spent the afternoon decorating them. It was just a perfect day. We had football games on in the background and the tree lit and it was just so perfect. This is "our" tradition and when I asked if he was too old for decorating cookies he thought I was crazy. This year he even rolled some out and cut them!

gatorGal, wow, your grandson will flip with excitement when he sees the ticket, well worth the jacked up cost! We are Steelers fans, living an hour fromPittsburgh were dh attends college. Also Ohio State fans as well as, because my uncle ( my dads brother) was an assistant coach for Alabama CrimsonTide with Bear Bryant for many years, my side of the family are big Bama fans. OSU and Alabama face each other in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day so we are all pumped.

So cool that you got to see Cal Ripkin in that historical game. Merry Christmas

Leah, one of my favorite foods is potato pancakes, latkes as you call them. Two of my grandparents came from Poland, so we grew up with this delicious food. If they weren't so time consuming to make, Iwould eat them every day. I plan to make them during the holiday. I like them straight, no chaser, ha ha by that I mean no sour cream, applesauceor ketchup needed, just lots of salt.

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas!

Caryn, I love the picture of your granddaughter!

Jeg likke lefse! Anything with butter, sugar and cinnamon has to be good. The potato latkes are symbolic of the miracle of the oil in the temple burning for 8 nights instead of 1. Latkes are a tradition mainly among those of Eastern European descent. In Israel, sufganiot , jelly donuts are traditional. Really, anything fried, like Leah's sons empanadas upholds the symbolism.

I came home and stared at two beautiful pears and a bottle of spiced red wine. What to do? Poached pears in spiced wine! They're simmering on my stove now and smell very good!

Happy Chanukah! Wishing everyone all the joys of the holiday season!

Sounds wonderful, Spring! I can't wait to see some of the pictures!

Here's my every year guilty pleasure - I buy myself a singing animal of some sort...

Was able to meet up with a wonderful, inspirational sister at a holiday 5K held in Seneca Falls, NY called "It's A Wonderful Run"

This is a picture of Bionic Bunny and I before the start of the race . It was wonderful to meet her and her daughters.

This thread has been awfully quiet. Wanted to go into the city for the Chinese New years parade but it is pretty darn cold, hopefully I can do it next year.. Really want to do something fun. My sister keeps on inviting me to visit her.so instead of going into the city i bought plane tickets for Florida. i leave next Sat. Going by myself and leaving DH and DS on their own for a few days.Now I have week to look forward to my trip and make plans on what to do. Some times the anticipation is more fun than the trip. Readingmama did you go to Dominics on Arthur Ave or Marios both are good but I like Dominics for the atmosphere.Used to spend a lot of time around there. Went to hig school across the street from Fordaham and have many happy memories of cutting class and hanging out on the Fordham campus.

Charlotte