Hey Noreen » Family

Free Advice

Noreen — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:28:46 +0000

So one of my siblings just let me know the drama from the Christmas dinner that I didn’t attend. Even though no alcohol was served, evidently some of the family got a little wrung up and arguments ensued. Thankfully it was after the meal and people were about to leave anyway. I can’t believe that this person though anything could be gained from stirring up things with the family.

Had to send a message to the perp. Not to keep things stirred up but to hopefully chill things for the next gathering – whenever that will be. At the risk of her giving me a bunch of grief back. Oh well, let’s see if free advice is worth anything.

“The older I get – and its pretty old now, g/f – the more I appreciate peace and harmony. Even though people have strong emotions, it is usually not worth having a discussion escalate in a family gathering. The family (any family) has a natural pecking order and people who disregard that are at a disadvantage.

So let me say that, when I married Steve Sr and had to find my way in his large dysfunctional family it was always challenging for me, especially during holidays. When all else fails, I would tell myself, “You can’t reason with crazy and you can’t argue with stupid.” Not that I’m calling anyone crazy or stupid – just sayin’ that sometimes nothing you say will have a good outcome no matter how right you think you are or how wrong you think someone else might be.

There’s another saying I love, too. “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.”

Thanksgiving Plans

Noreen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:24:26 +0000

This week is one of the most heavily traveled weeks all year. There will be millions of people flying or driving across state lines to get home and have Thanksgiving dinner with their families.

My family dinner will be pulling people for 4 different states, but not all of us will be there. My sister is hosting the dinner in Virginia. We can’t make that long a trip right now, but my thoughts are with them. the worst thing about not being there is that the people not there get talked about and they aren’t able to defend themselves. Rumors and arguments from family gatherings have a way of lasting for months afterwards. That’s how families do.

Lil Sistah

Noreen — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:05:48 +0000

Today is my little sister’s birthday. I can remember my two sister’s birthdays easily because they follow a pattern. My birthday was on the 19th, my sister’s birthday was on the 17th and then my lil sister’s birthday was on the 15th.

That pattern continued with my two younger brothers. My brother was born 10 years after me and his birthday was on the 13th. Then the youngest and last was born on . . . not the 11th. That’s what we were all thinking. But he was born on the 21st. So we’ve got all the odd numbers covered from the 13th through the 21st.

When my mom went to Las Vegas they gave her a Keno card at one of the restaurants and she picked all the numbers of our birthdays – and she won $800! How about that!

Sister Shout Out

Noreen — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:17:19 +0000

The three Musketeers.

The three ships of Columbus.

Three blind mice.

The three sisters from Vienna.

My sisters blog and we all have a blast reading up on each other’s days and keeping up with the family.

Just wanted to shout out to my sisters – you rock!

Baby Shower

Noreen — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:59:49 +0000

Everyone around me is having babies. Nothing makes you feel so old as seeing everyone else pushing baby strollers and realizing that pushing strollers was something you did over 30 years ago. I have to go to another baby shower next weekend. I might as well stock up on baby gifts and keep them at the ready.

Can He Dance?

Noreen — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:51:51 +0000

A group of women were chatting about a guy we all know. He seemed like the perfect man, by his own accounts. He claims to cook gourmet meals, has mastered housework and child care as a single parent with shared custody, has a ton of money from extensive education and a prosperous career, respects women. What more could we ask?

Well, I asked if he can dance and he reluctantly admitted that, no, he has never bothered to learn to dance.

Everyone left the discussion, bitterly disappointed. The search continues.

Home made bread

Noreen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:41:55 +0000

There is almost nothing better in this world than home made bread baking in the oven. I like to buy the frozen bread dough loaves at the store, and when I have the time at home I pull them out and cook a couple of loaves.

Today is such a day. I have two loaves of bread rising in the oven, and I should have them ready to eat with supper. Home made bread makes a plain meal a lot more “comfort food”-ish. No one in my house complains about supper when there is a freshly baked loaf of home made bread on the table!

We’re from a musical family

Noreen — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:15:20 +0000

I know it sounds crazy, but my father was a rock musician when I was a kid. My sisters and I loved to go watch his band perform. He had a band with a lead guitarist, a drummer, a singer, and my father played the electric organ. That band never made “the big time” but they were a very popular band for private parties; they had “gigs” every single Friday and Saturday night, and an occasional “gig” on other special occasions too. Whenever a new pop song hit the charts, my father would run out and buy the record and bring it home and make my sisters and I listen to the song over and over and over again to write down the lyrics for him, while he would listen to the music and try to figure out how to play it. I cannot tell you how quickly we got sick of listening to “American Pie!”

I Love Cracker Barrel

Noreen — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:58:31 +0000

Whenever I get the chance to eat at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, I am there! I love their rustic charm and their food is wonderful! And I really like browsing around their gift shop, too!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my childhood

Noreen — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:55:43 +0000

and trying to come up with as many happy memories as I can. Sometimes that is hard to do!

Happy Birthday Leap Year Babies!

Noreen — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:24:03 +0000

I know of one new baby born this year on Leap Day. I don’t think she has a name yet, as her parents were surprised that she came a couple weeks early. Mom and daughter are doing OK – that’s the important part – and now she gets a special birthday date, too.

To the rest of the Leap Day birthday boys and girls, hope you enjoy your special day today, and that this year ahead is your best one, EVER!