Musical Monday 3-3-2014

More of the UK’s “The Voice” Lee Glasson

The Final Touches

The final touches for the wedding between Roxie and I are almost complete. The logistics have been tough as our family and friends are spread to the four winds it seems. To the credit of everyone, all have made every effort to make sure our special day is shared with all of our family and friends.

Our maid of honor, brides maids and best man have long since been chosen and they have been our rock when the  details seem ready to overwhelm Roxie and I. The honeymoon has been planned, the tickets purchased and all of those wonderful details have been taken care of.

Those final touches, indeed they are many but she and I have worked through every trial and tribulation we have met. I am pleased to say that not once has she even shown the slightest tendency to become a bridezilla.

There have been days where the pressure to get it all done and done the way we want it have just about caused me a migraine but it is all worth it!

That wonderful day is insight and I can not wait to hear the minister tell me I can kiss my bride and then announce us as a married couple!

The final touches indeed!        

 

Hump Day Beach Post

 

The emails have piled up and frankly I have thought little of blogging the past couple of weeks. I have enjoyed my life with Roxie as much as possible and as of late that means beach time. We spent 2 full weeks on the beach having a blast, making new friends and visiting old ones.

We both have stressful jobs and the upcoming wedding has only added to our normal stress level. So off we jetted to the Caribbean , I got home one night and told her we needed a vacation and we needed it now.  Roxie agreed and by that Friday we were gone, we did not tell anyone we just hopped on a plane and jetted south.

It is likely our last vacation together until after we are married and  we enjoyed every minute of it. The weather for the most part was perfect and on those days it wasn’t we simply stayed in bed all day  loving one another, talking and more. I am now pretty damn good at painting her toe nails, she has the cutest feet ever.

There were no plans made this trip we just went and it was exactly what we needed.

So for those that emailed me wondering how she and I are doing well in a word we are “perfect”, we are now rested and refreshed and ready to once again tackle all that life throws at us.

I wish you all the best and there is much more to come, I am just ready for bed as I write this for Wednesday…Happy Hump Day Everyone!

New Years Kisses in Times Square

 

The entire trip has been a thrill, seeing friends for the first time in many years, amazing food and making memories to last a life time.

The flight into New York was un-eventful, our friends met us at the airport and we were soon in Manhattan enjoying their wonderful hospitality. We sat and talked and of course my friends told embarrassing stories from my child hood.

There was the story about my dog and the dog catcher and how I had managed to hide my pooch in my jacket or so I thought. I was un aware his tail was easily seen outside my coat wagging as I did the best I could to convince him I had not seen such an animal lol, he had no license and thus could have been picked up by the dog catcher as they were called back in my youth, he simply smiled and went his way.

There was also the story of the finger prints in the cake, oh how I truly loved Mrs. Poindexters cakes and I went by one day to visit as I often did, she was a very sweet woman who would read to me, teach me about the world and life. She would often tell me of her travels around the world and I can still recall her sweet nature and kindness to me as a young man.  Anyway back to the fingerprints in the cake, as I have already written I had stopped by to see her and the door was cracked open but no one answered, well I went inside anyway. I was only 5 or 6 at the time and they were our next door neighbors so it was a common thing in those days long ago. I called to her several times as I walked around inside when I saw it, rather I smelled it first.

It was one of the most amazing cakes I had ever seen, 4 layers tall, freshly baked and on the table to cool I suppose. I could smell the lemon icing; oh I have a weakness to this day for lemon cakes. I thought hey there is a little icing on the plate I can taste that and not bother the cake.

Yeah you guessed it, I smudged the cakes frosting, I thought I had managed to cover up this little sin with some handy-dandy movement of  icing from one spot to another, I simply forgot about the finger prints I left behind, it was clear they had come from little fingers. Yeah I was busted, she asked me about it later and I fessed up, thinking I was in trouble she just started laughing and handed me a piece that she had brought over for me.

She wanted me to know that no one had noticed my handy work or my finger prints as she had made sure to cut the cake just so to hide my visit. I had not thought of those days in a very long time and her son Frank the host of this visit, he and I shared a tear as we recalled his dear, dear sweet mom and how she had been a mother to all, including a little boy who lived next door to her, the one who routinely visited for story time and cakes, cookies and the best peanut butter fudge in the world.

The reminiscing was soon over as it was time for a nice dinner before the evenings celebrations began at times square, once in town we walked along in the cold enjoying the sites and sounds of the city. The diner was at a little hole in the wall Italian place, scarcely more than 10 tables in size. That’s the best place to eat normally and I was not disappointed.

We left with our appetites sated and eating the best crème filled pastries I have tasted in a long time, I even managed to smear a bit on Roxie’s cheek, feigning an excuse to kiss her.

The crowds of people at and near Times Square for New years is maddening, the party starts long before you even get to the famed location. As we talked and sang, laughed, snuggled and kissed, the time finally came and Roxie and I enjoyed a wonderful and loving kiss on our 2 New Years Eve together and this one was in Times Square, yes indeed life is good!

The entire visit was in a word refreshing, friendships from long ago rekindled, new friends made along with plans to return if at all possible in the summer for a visit, there is much to see in New York and the other boroughs and she and I both desire to travel as much as possible.

A champagne kiss on New Year’s Eve with the love of a life time and in Times Square no less, how cool is that!

Christmas Everyday

Christmas everyday, that is how my life feels the last few weeks. I know it sounds corny, I really do not care. The past 18 months have been a mixed bag of emotions, everything from pure joy, heart-break at the death of friends, disgust and total disdain of the actions of a former love and victory and elation.

We all have our ups and downs in life and I am no different, how we handle those hills and valleys helps us to mitigate the lows and amplify the highs. I have finally mitigated a certain nagging low point in my life, now that I have finally removed that negative from my life I am able to fully enjoy the blessings, the last few weeks have been as though I have experienced Christmas everyday.

As I awoke this morning in the arms of my dear Roxie, our legs intertwined and her head on my chest, the day was getting off to a wonderful start.  Today was also the day Roxie and I got to spend time with my little princess Jennifer.

Roxie and I so love that little lady, we spent several hours with her doing a little of this and that, there was a snowball fight, building a snowman (small one) well he was pretty tall until I was summarily pushed into him by a certain princess and raven haired woman. We had a nice lunch and the ladies did girly things with their fingers, toes and hair at the salon.

It was nice to just sit and listen to them talk and see them both enjoy their time together, today is a great day!

The weather is cold but the bike paths are finally clear and the three of us took a short ride to a local spot to see the remaining wildlife, not all Geese fly south for the winter and we fed them bread and just enjoyed our time outside and the beauty of nature.

The day has been wonderful in every way, Roxie and I took Jennifer home with us and we had a great cup of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches by the fireplace, how could the day have been any better. The time for Jennifer to go back home came all to soon and I admit to having a lump in my throat as she and her mother drove away. My dear Roxie knows me all to well and whispered in my ear that it would not be long before we have one of our very own, yes it is Christmas every day!