Workin' at the Car Wash....

Does anyone else get annoyed at the car wash?

It never fails. I drive up. I try not to be up-sold on the wash. I am unsuccessful. I go inside. I stand in line. I pay. I make sure I have enough cash to tip. I'm curious how much other people tip. I'm sure I over tip, but I don't want to be cheap either. But I'm not bothered yet.

I find a nice sunny spot at the cafe tables outside where everyone waits for their car to pull up. We all have a magazine or newspaper, a Starbucks' something or other (it's right next door), sunglasses, cell phones, and every now and then, lunch. The temperature, in the high 70s with a slight breeze, feels good. The sunshine feels great.

How hard is it to lift your head up when a car pulls up? How about when the car wash man honks the horn, starts with the rally towel...swirling it around in the air, calling out the car make, and yells "Finished!" What if that man is approximately ten feet from you?

It never fails. No, I don't own the Range Rover. That's not mine. I make eye contact with him because he is looking right at me. I acknowledge him and then I look around to the other seven people sitting around. I try to guess who will stand up. No one does. The Hispanic man climbs back in the SUV and pulls it to the "I'm an idiot, I didn't know my car was ready" spot. There are six other cars there.

It never fails. The same scenario happens with the BMW, the Caddy, the Maserati. I'm tempted to stand up and claim the Maserati.

Here's where I begin to scratch my head. The man next to me is five feet from the cars driving forward. He's in a button-down shirt, slacks, Cole Hahn's. I'd guess, he's in his mid-50s. I think every car is his. He actually looks up and seems to be paying attention. He is the reason I didn't jump into the Maserati.

Because I will be there a while (I was up-sold on the full detail and wax, remember?), I analyze the people and the cars. One lady is using two chairs to make a recliner. Her head is back and her face to the sun. I'm not sure she's breathing.

Time passes. Many cars are claimed. Many more are not.

Finally, the well-heeled gentleman rises and gathers his belongings. I lift my head from the Dream Homes magazine I'm reading and try to figure out which of the two cars pulling up is his. The Lexus or the Mercedes? Well, actually neither, because his car was finished thirty minutes ago and is waiting in the idiot pile-up. What!?! Dude, how could you miss the older BMW convertible as it practically ran over your toes!?!

Is it just me? Why doesn't everyone antipate the joyous reunion with their shiny, feels-like-new car? Whenever the man pulls my car up, it's like two lovers running and leaping through an overgrown, flower-filled meadow into each others arms surrounded by butterflies.

Suddenly, I snap to attention as the towel waver calls out "Finished!" Tchaikovsky's Love Theme begins to play.

Oh yeah, that one is mine and I almost missed it!

Live From the Red Carpet....

The kids and I were writing our Christmas thank-yous and watching the Golden Globes. When Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio appeared on the red carpet, the kids couldn't believe they were the same people on the Titanic.

"She doesn't look the same," said Remy. "But he kind of looks like Uncle Chris from this angle."

Then Drew says: "Yeah, but Uncle Chris smells like beer!"

HA! HA!

What Would Marty McSorley's Mom Do?

Does this boy deserve a spanking or what!?!

No call was made on this check, but Drew's seen more than his fair share of penalty minutes this season. He's also been on the receiving end of many hits. What goes around, comes around...

The reaction from the men in our family? Way to go, Drew!

I'm going to follow Mrs. McSorley's lead, just as soon as I figure it out.

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

On the twelfth day of Christmas

Twelve drummers made a fuss

To finally let you know

These gifts have come from us!

For the life of him, Drew couldn't guess what this gift was

although it was the exact size and shape of a previous gift...

Hockey Cards.

This just so happens to be one of his most favorite things.

I gave him clue after clue.  He even got so far as 

"Hockey C..." and still couldn't guess it!

He was thrilled to finally see what was inside

and he went right to work.

Remy didn't try to guess her gift  because:

1) she was sleeping and

2) I couldn't remember what it was.....glasses!

She doesn't need them but she LOVES them.

I guess the old "Don't do that you'll hurt your eyes!" 

doesn't apply to grandchildren.

Goof!

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

On the eleventh day of Christmas

Eleven pipers play a tune

And hope this gift of love

Causes joy to fill the room!

Joy definitely filled the room with Miley Cyrus' Breakout

and Def Leppard's greatest hits Vault.   

Drew will practice his shots in garage while listening to Rock of Ages.  

Remy will dance around the house to Fly On The Wall

when she thinks no one is looking.  You might catch me too.

Nini rocks!

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

On the tenth day of Christmas

Those ten leapin' lords were ready

For an Italian celebration

of specially made spaghetti!

Of course, the pasta was a big hit with Remy.

On the other hand, Drew thinks Nini has gone "crazy".

Drew is especially upset because he's been asking for "Tacky Mac" hockey stick grip.  It's been at the top of his list for months.  I keep forgetting to buy it.  So the kid gets pasta called "Wacky Mac" and he thinks Nini must be confused.  Poor Drew.  He was gypped!  Or at least he thinks so.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

On the ninth day of Christmas

Nine ladies were so-o-oo shy

But holiday spirits made them smile

As they went dancing by!

Drew received a Hockey magazine and chapstick.

Remy got a compass, handwriting analysis book, and chapstick.  

The compass was her favorite.  Thanks Nini!