hunger games

I don't know how funny the Hunger Games movie will be but I think I'm going to play hooky shortly to go see it. I've read all three books, which were fascinating, so I really want to see the movie. I know I'm a bit behind. I can't believe it is still in the theater. I'll try to post feedback later!

the month of may reeks havoc . . .

Maybe I'm just too old for the month of May. Nonsense you say  .  .  .  I don't know, others feel the same way I am sure. Too many activities piled on to the calendar that was already full with normal, repeating monthly items. Recitals, exams, dentist appointments, graduations, graduation gifts, birthdays, birthday gifts  .  .  .  you just can't stay ahead of the eight-ball in the month of May. 

One special note though: the month of May belongs to Charlotte. Yep, She turned, (whisper please) 51 this month. Seems a bit anticlimactic after the escapades of last year. In May of 2011, we were planning the big "50-year-old-celebration-trip." Remember, one of us, the baby, was about to turn 49, so we gave her a pass. (Our rule clearly states that you must be within 12 months of turning 50 to be eligible to join Group Therapy.)  At the time of our trip last July, which was when the club was created, Samantha was within the 12 month window, barely. She will turn 50 in July and we can't wait! Of course, she and Carrie will only be fifty at the same time for a little over a month, but that's not what matters. The fact that we are all headed into the next half of our century together is what matters. Knowing someone for the better part of your life (forty plus years) is staggering. I still remember the first time I saw both of these girls. Amazing!

Last year, Charlotte's children both graduated from college. And this year her daughter graduated from graduate school. This year, Samantha's oldest son graduates from high school. As a matter of fact, tomorrow is the big day for him, or them. Sure, it's a big accomplishment for the child, or should I say, young adult. But the parents are the folks that should get the real credit! What an accomplishment: to bring a life into this world, feed it, clothe it, nurture and protect it, teach it to survive, love it unconditionally (even through the terrible twos and threes or the dreadful teenage years) and then just let it go  .  .  .  can anything be any harder than that? I'm not quite there, but certainly bracing myself already.

Speaking of the dreadful teenage years, I have a book recommendation:  I've Had It Up To Here With Teenagers, by Melinda Rainey Thompson. She isn't quite old enough for Group Therapy but will be welcomed with open arms once she is. Melinda's perspective is hysterical and as you read you find yourself shaking your head up and down with unconscious agreement or laughing out loud. Here's a link to Amazon. (It's a quick, fun read for anyone in the midst of teenagers, about to be in the throws of teenager-dom or have happily survived those icky years and want to revel in all that was and is no more.)

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=i%27ve+had+it+up+to+here+with+teenagers&sprefix=I%27ve+had%2Cstripbooks%2C210

So what's left? Only 5 more days then SUMMERTIME! Look for some new Group Therapy adventures soon. 

To be continued  .  .  .  

on a roll . . .

Two days in a row!

It's Friday, which is always good at our house. In the old days it used to be better than it is now, before I had to worry about my teenager and ALL that his age and status in life conjures up! When he was younger, Friday nights meant "date night" .  .  .  not in the traditional sense of the word. Friday night was the night we snuggled up together in mommy's bed to watch TV, particularly Stargate SG-1. (I've always had a crush on Richard Dean Anderson, otherwise known as MacGyver, so this show was right up my alley. Which meant it would be a favorite of my sweet little pre-pubescent child. Everything I did, or said or liked, in those days was perfect. I digress  .  .  .  ) Any-who, Friday night was my favorite part of the week and as I blissfully reflect back on that easy time, I also remember that I was stressed about life then too. Of course the "stressers" were different then but if I'm honest, they were just as intense. In my glass-half-full way of analyzing, I guess this revelation is a good indication that stress is stress and everything eventually has a way of becoming not-so-stressful. I can't wait to not worry about my son driving, or drinking or, okay, never-mind, the list would take all night and I'm ready for the grape. Oh wait, I'll never get to NOT worry again, as long as I live. They never tell you about this worry-thing when you're trying to get pregnant or pulling into the driveway or parking lot from the hospital with your new bundle(s) of joy. Nope, those little details are never discussed, by ANYONE! I think it's a conspiracy  .  .  .  who would willingly want to worry about teenagers, etc.? (Not that I would have it any other way, I'm just saying  .  .  .  )


Remind me to tell you the story of our Group Therapy reunion to celebrate Carrie's 50th!  Maybe next time.


Happy Friday!


To be continued  .  .  .

Yep, that's the little boy who made "date night" the favorite part of my week!

latest trip to the border . . .

If you followed this BLOG when it was fresh and relevant to our Group Therapy adventure, you know that our story obviously had to come to an end, right? This is how we paused our journey: 


(late 2011)

Memories . . .

Here we are, no more Cabo adventure, just us being 50  .  .  . at the moment I'm watching the movie Julie & Julia, based on a true story about a young women searching for her purpose, deciding on a whim to BLOG about cooking her way through Julia Child's cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking. ” I was inspired the first time I saw the movie, but today, it drew me back to the computer to dive back in to Chapter 2. The BLOG must continue.  

Aren't we all looking for a purpose, something bigger than what we are individually. That is certainly the essence of this movie. And I suppose the essence of this BLOG. We are all so stressed, living life with mortgages and teenagers and a bad economy. So we thought a little humor would be just what the doctor ordered if the doctor was ordering something. You know, how often might you say, "too funny" and laugh hysterically? We think too funny should be a daily occurrence. Don't you? So, we are officially transitioning from our wonderful Group Therapy Cabo adventure to our everyday "life" adventures. But we need you! Send us your stories to add to this archive. If you are at least 12 months from turning 50, or you are 50 or over, please send us your stories. We would love to add them to our BLOG! We will also be opening up our membership in the coming weeks so stay posted on how you can join our exclusive club. If you have a story to share, please forward to ngagethehumor@gmail.com. 

To be continued  .  .  .  

May 3, 2012

Okay, now we are ready to continue!

Today was the day. Two of us, Samantha and Carrie, were headed to the border. No, not the Mexican border, although I can see how you might think that if you were a loyal follower of our Cabo adventure. No, I'm talking about the Alabama/Georgia border. Three guesses why, and the first two don't count. (I never really understood that silly phrase so why I'm using it here only demonstrates what I already know but you are obviously, possibly painfully, figuring out: I'm pretty rusty BLOGGING!) No worries, I'm a professional (at something anyway) so bear with me while I shake off the dust and jump back in.

Where was I  .  .  .  oh yes, our little trip to the border. We weren't leaving Charlotte out. She was in Atlanta and we concocted the plan rather last minute. (we so wish she still lived down-the-street) This morning, we were going to jump in the car, no showers or make-up, and head to nearest gas station just across the Georgia state line. Why? LOTTERY tickets! While some folks think that "Playing the Lottery" is a bad idea, we think it is the only way we will ever potentially see unbelievable wealth, so why not? The Alabama state legislature has over-ruled any Alabama lottery initiative for years. No doubt the divide is wide between morally convicted, upstanding citizens on both sides of the equation. I intellectually understand each side of the debate. But I, as anyone who really knows me, has a rather staunch philosophy concerning the lottery, any lottery for that matter: somebody has to win eventually and it might as well be me! 

Now before you start formulating your anti-lottery comments (although trust me when I say any comment would be better than the "silent BLOG vacuum" this little periodical has suffered by my admitted neglect) rest assured that I don't travel to the border very often and I typically only buy lottery tickets a couple of times a year. But I do but tickets for weeks and months at a time hoping to pick that lucky combination, to change life as I know it forever. And also, please know that I would probably be the MOST generous lottery winner in the history of ALL lottery winners. I believe in giving back and give back I would!

So, where am I actually going with this story? (before you have another birthday that is) Samantha and Carrie were headed out but were stopped by the weather. The weather? What was there, a hurricane with winds in excess of 150 miles per hour? Was there a tornado or flood with basketball size hail? Surely either of those scenarios would have prevented the hour and a half drive to possible financial freedom and life altering return. No, it was raining on and off and they just decided it was just a little too dangerous. Driving in the rain that is  .  .  .  OMG, we are our mothers! No offense to them of course, but oh my goodness! A short twenty five years ago we would have driven ten hours for such frivolity, with much less potential return on the investment. As a matter of fact, in college, Charlotte and Carrie did just that: drove to Key West, from a little college town in Alabama called Auburn (you may have heard of it if you haven't been living under a rock .  .  .  WAR EAGLE! - Sorry Samantha! We'll get a T-town mention in here really, really soon  .  .  . ) to watch their favorite band, Telluride. That trip took twenty-one hours (one way) and several days during their spring break. Honestly, the memory is still fun to think about, but the thought of riding in a car for twenty-one hours for anything or anyone is well beyond this 50 year old frame. And how sad is that!

The morale of this story: Grab whatever FUN you can whenever you have the strength, time or inclination. In twenty five more years, we may think the drive-through at Mickie-D's is BIG TIME. Pray that's not the case!

Glad to be back! Keep reading and visit nGage Today if you need a little nSpiration or just want to nJoy all we have to offer. The shop is full of great gifts that give back to numerous charities. Staying connected is key so nGage Today! 

Follow this link: http://ngagetoday.com/ngagetoday/Welcome.html

To be continued  .  .  .