Lunch with Marlo

Melissa, Violet and I had lunch today with Marlo, the little girl I used to babysit. I say little girl but that was back when I was 16 years old. Today Marlo is a mother herself with two sons ages 14 and 10.

I told Melissa I would take Marlo with me everywhere I went when I was 16 which would have made her a little older than Violet. I asked Melissa if there was a 16 year old she would trust to take Violet out riding in a car. She quickly answered "NO ONE!" Times sure have changed.

Violet Gets Locked in the Car

Melissa and Violet came to visit me today. Soon after they walked out to leave I hear Melissa banging on the front door. I rushed outside and she tells me Violet is locked in the car.

While Melissa was walking outside she saw some neighbors walking their dog. Instead of chasing after Khloe and Lola, she scooped up both dogs and put them in the car. She started the car to get it warm then proceeded to put Violet in her car seat. As soon as she shut the car door both dogs started barking and jumping by the window to see the neighbor's dog walking past my house. Before Melissa could get to the driver's door she heard a "click". One of the dogs had jumped on the door lock button and the dogs and Violet were locked in the car with the keys in the ignition. What a nightmare! She called Jamie who was working at Lone Jack. Luckily there were no fire calls and he was able to come and open the car door using a plastic wedge, blood pressure cuff and metal rod. It was rather interesting.

Melissa and I tried to keep Violet entertained through the window while waiting the 30 minutes for Jamie to show up. We were even trying to get her to roll down the window but she was strapped in her car sear and couldn't reach the button. But she did understand what we were telling her. She finally got bored and fell asleep as did Khloe and Lola. I don't think Violet will suffer any nightmares or trauma because of this experience but I'm not so sure about Melissa.

Happy Birthday Jamie!

Another December birthday and this one belongs to Jamie Taylor. After a dinner at BD Mongolian BBQ it was off to one of Jamie's favorite things - the Maverick's game.

Violet started out the game a little shy of all her surroundings.

But by the second period she was ready to go.

And by the end of the game she was asleep. She didn't even wake up when the Mavericks scored and won the game.

This post may be mostly about Violet instead of Jamie but he was with his family and friend, Anthony. What better way to celebrate your birthday. I guess we could have all gone to a car show but it's way too cold for that. Happy Birthday Jamie!

Happy Birthday to Me!

As you get older it's harder to acknowledge your birthday. But I've come to find out that most people, once you "look" a certain age, don't ask how old you are. They just offer congratulations - probably because they can't believe you made it this far! I spent the first half of my birthday helping Melissa and Jamie get Violet to smile for Christmas card pics - not as easy as it may sound. Then up to Harrah's to visit with Michael while waiting for my friends to get off work for a happy hour in my honor.

Several people I used to work with at KCP&L showed up at Paul & Jack's - a quaint little bar and grill in North Kansas City. It was nice to see them. I can't believe it's been almost 4 years since I retired. But we all fell into the old routine of shop talk and family lives.

Then my friends, Robin and Debbie, decided we needed to go next door to a bar for dancing. I was floored when the (for lack of a better word) "hostess" (she looked older than me) asked to see my driver's license. She said it was against Missouri law to enter a bar without proper ID. Always quick on my feet with a response I asked her if it happened to be my birthday would I get a free drink. She grudgingly looked at my license then handed over a free drink ticket. The place was completely empty and it was already 8:30. Debbie, who is quite a few years younger than me, said things didn't really get busy until around 11:00. I was stunned. I'm usually sound asleep by then. But I did stay until 9:30. I'm just not the young party girl I used to be. But it was a birthday to remember!

Goodbye Fifties!

Today is the last day of being in my fifties. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad but at least it's not bothering me. If anyone happens to have enough nerve to ask how old I am, I'm still sticking with 56.

We all went to dinner at Salty Iguana - Dad, Karen, Michael, Ashley, Melissa and Violet. Karen thought she was real cute with her birthday card indicating I was either born in biblical times or at the time Columbus discovered America - "Forsooth! We hath delivered unto this flat earth a wondrous child!" Yuk, yuk! I'm still trying to figure it out.

December Girls Lunch

The first Tuesday of each month is set aside to meet with the ladies I used to work with at KCP&L. This month we were celebrating my birthday.

It seems as though lately we're having to reschedule (usually my fault) or someone can't make it due to work commitments. But this month we were all together at Smokin' Gun - a barbecue place in NKC - not that great. We laugh and gossip and get caught up on things happening in our life. Greatest group of women I know!

Un-Traditional Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was a first - I did not cook Thanksgiving dinner nor did anyone in my family. Instead we all went to Harrah's and had a great steak dinner. Dad and I were talking on our way to Harrah's and in our 140+ years combined, we have never had a Thanksgiving dinner where we weren't at someone's house. But when you think about it most restaurants - even McDonald's - were always closed on Thanksgiving. With all the people having Black Friday shopping on their minds, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner may be a thing of the past. Michael even said that the line for the buffet at Harrah's wound around to the convention center most of the day.

Violet started out a little tired at the beginning of dinner but when the macaroni and cheese arrived she was ready to go. There was one little mishap where the busboy dropped the dirty dishes down Dad's back (he wasn't hurt, just a little messy). And Dad got a coupon for $10 for his inconvenience.

After dinner I took the opportunity to take a few pictures hoping to get something good for my Christmas card. I started out with just me and Violet then realized squatting next to her wasn't my best pose.

About 30 minutes later I had my pictures and Michael took our group selfie. We may have just started a new tradition for Thanksgiving. But today I'm paying the consequences - no leftovers to snack on.