Girls Night Out In

 

Contrary to popular belief, girl's night out isn't all about bars, eating, drinking, laughing, being silly, and recalling funny "ya had to be there" stories about co-workers, ex-boyfriends, and family.

No ... it doesn't have to take place in a bar.

Last night Margie and I went to Karen's house for our GNO.

And, all of the above went on.

Karen had prepared a lavish array of hor' dourve's. Just take a peek and know everything was as delicious as it looks.

 

Margie's interfusion of Mikes Lemonade with a shot *or 3* of Raspberry Smirnoff is my new drink of choice.

Just one drink on Karen's patio, in her lovely manicured yard, and the laughter began. Of course the stories began to flow and quite frankly "you had to be there."

Karen is an artistically creative person.  She is a crafter *in the most exquisite way, not a glue gun and glitter gal*.  Her decor is peppered with her talents from photography, to beautifully sewn draperies and decorative pillows. On display are her hand made candles and a hand made kitchen rug that I promise I'll "borrow" if I think I can get away with it. There are  many beautiful pieces accenting her lovely home made by her.

As we are sitting there enjoying the laughter, she whips out a bag of modeling clay. Like Edward Scissorhands she begins breaking off and rolling tiny pieces of clay.  Within minutes she created a turtle for Margie and this kitty for me.
 

 

Thanks girls ... it was a great night in.

** Best part ...no make-up necessary **

Happy Birthday Margie

 

Today is my baby sisters 49th birthday.

01.2011

Yesterday, we were talking about it and I forgot how old she was. I began to say "It's your 39th right?" and quickly I remembered it couldn't be her 39th because I remembered her 40th!

Then I burst out laughing. So did she.

Although today is her FORTY-NINTH birthday,  I'm going to share a bit of her 40th.

Margie had been recently divorced and was just beginning to dip her toe in the dating pool. Since she and I weren't looking for any serious relationships, we began to hang out together, gathering with a fun group of like minded single men and women that would plan and meet on weekends at different venues for dancing, pool, music and socializing. 

When someone in our group was having a birthday, we'd consider it a great reason to party!  I decided to plan a party for Margie's 40th and sent out e-mails.  Margie and I arrived at  the venue and shortly after, a couple guys showed up.  Then a couple more guys walked in.  A few more ... and by guys , I really mean guys, men ... no women.  Within the first hour there were 11 men, Margie and I.  The men had questionable half smiles on their face as Margie asked if I had only invited men.  I was laughing my azz off because of course I did invite women too.

As the numbers continued to grow, and the guys began to get a little nervous, the drinks were flowing.  Margie's birthday drink of choice was *Purple Rain, oh boy!

About an hour and a half into this party women finally began to show up. Margie was having a blast.  She was showered with Purple Rain all night long. Margie was the life of the party ... she WAS the party, and it continued on until closing. I think that was a cross-over for her, single mama had arrived!  After a night of table top dancing and celebrating life, I took her home.  I tucked her in her bed, still in her clothes, and knew she'd freak when she woke-up in the morning!

At her 40th *2002*

I assure you still Margie, you were fine.  All your clothes remained on, you never fell, and you had fun ... even though you don't remember a thing.

So this year, Sandi and I asked her what she wanted to do for her special day.  What ever she wanted to do, we're in. Drinking? Dancing? Partying? Casino? Wicked wildness?

Bowling ... she wants to go bowling.  So that's what we're doing!

Maybe a little rain afterward???

  *Purple Rain*

1.5 oz  Premium vodka
1.5 oz  Premium rum
   2 oz  Premium 1800 Tequila
1.5 oz  Premium gin
1.5 oz  Cointreau orange liqueur
1.5 oz  Triple sec
1.5 oz  Chambord raspberry liqueur
   2 oz  Sweet and sour mix

   Shake and serve over ice.

Girls Just Wanna ... Let the Dogs Out

Madonna, Margie, Me, Cyndi, Marie

I'm quite certain as each of us girls were getting ready for a mid-week get together, Cyndi Lauper's song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" was humming through our heads.

This morning, I woke up still smirking at the six middle-age women hitting Big Fish to see Big Will and the 360 Band, only now the song "Who Let the Dogs Out?" is running through my mind.

Over the years we've all enjoyed our local live bands. There is nothing like live music to dance to. Unfortunately, many clubs have submitted to having DJ's. I guess when we find a great dance band, our zealous excitement kicks in. (Ahem, to say the least!)


Big Will and the 360 Band is just what this metro-Detroit area needs. Not only are they an extremely entertaining band, individually and collectively they have a plethora of background experiences that have brought them to this point.

So who DID let the dogs out? I'm thinking being a Wednesday, a smaller crowd, one or seventy-eleven glasses of wine, an awesome band, and fun women getting together ... well, there 'ya have it.

What happened at Big Fish, stays at Big Fish! *Kinda, join us next girls night out and I'm sure you'll have fun too.

Big Will & Sandi

"Luuvvv yaaaaa Wiiiill"

Happy Birthday Mom

My mom had her 74th birthday last week. My two sisters and I took her out for lunch today. I know brother Mike should have been here too, but it took us a week after her birthday to get the three of us together!

Anyway, here's my sisters Margie and Sandi, Mom and me.


Yeah, I know us sisters could be identical triplets couldn't we? ;)

Oh, and Tiffany, Margie's co-worker joined us,
she most definitely could be a sister too!

Whew, 2009, I Made It!

It's a few days into 2009, and a few days of recouping!

I had so much fun "ringing in the new year."

I started out with Captain Don at MacRay Marina. He wanted to stop in at a party that was on his friends boat. Hu? Ummm, isn't it going to be cold and if I recall, the water in Michigan is ICE.

Obviously, I'm clueless about storing boats. I thought you pull them out of the water, winterize and shrink wrap until spring. That's what I've seen my nephew do with his boat.

This "boat" was in a heated slip,(is that what its called?)like a big frickin' garage for huge ass boats (um, yachts?) that are still floating on the water.

This wasn't a "boat" to me. It had a fireplace, cable TV, bedrooms (are those called berths?)bathrooms ... this was bigger than my house.

We headed to Royal Oak for a private party at Memphis Smoke. This is the same place I went last year and had so much fun. The Regular Boys were again, the band singing in the New Year.

Margie and John, having a great time!

My sister Margie and her boyfriend John, Tiffany and her husband Robert, Cyndi, and Madonna were already there. Cyndi had reserved two tables front and center to the band and dance floor, so our seats were great for the evening.

Hel-ooooo 2009. The first was a wee-bit rough, but I survived.
The second of the month was better, I did get my tree down.
The third, I'm doing just fine.

My project for today was getting my wireless router working so I could get up close and personal with my new laptop. I am going to like coffee in my bed, with my laptop, a little too much on these cold days.


Don Pietrykowski
Cyndi, Madonna, Margie

What if Wednesday

Michael, at Captain Obvious, asks:

"If you were writing your life story, is there anything you wish you could change?"

This question is usually answered with, "Not really, because the choices I've made and the things I've done, have made me who I am today."

As much as I do agree with that answer, there is one thing I may have changed.

As I was growing up, the common thought was to get into a career, establish yourself with a company, invest time in service and reap the rewards of retirement.

We can see today that isn't really the way to go. Statistics show young people entering the workforce today, will work for several companies through out their career.

My sister is a "job hopper". It appears she has the ability to "fall into" great jobs. Looking at her resume, she is all over the board with different type jobs and different experiences. The next one being better than the last.

In reality, this tells me it isn't about luck or falling into opportunities. It's more about going around with a basket gathering a little here and there from each job making yourself more marketable.

I, on the other hand, have stayed at one job doing pretty much the same thing for over 22 years. Although I gain new knowledge as the position keeps up with technology, I haven't expanded in my experiences. My job, like everyone else, is on shaky ground. I have concerns if I need to find a new one, that my longevity in one field no longer represents loyalty and dependability. More so, a deficit, a lack of different experiences.

So Michael, I would change my though of staying with one company, one job.

Wait, there is one more thing I would change.

That would be the time, with the same sister, I was at the Peach Pit in Romeo doing shots of Chambord. I took the dare by the bartender and did a sultry bar top dance from one end of the bar to the other. Then made my sister join me for the next song.