Cocktails in your PJ’s – woot!

It’s been a lazy sort of Sunday- in your pjs all kind of day.  It is what it is.

My neighbor, friend and mischief-maker popped me a text to ask if I had time for one cocktail. I answered back ‘sure — if I can come in pjs’ and bra-less and oh by the way is there popcorn?’ Trader Joe’s white cheddar popcorn to be exact.  Amen.

I remember when I moved into this quirky little Historic District I’ve called home for a decade and a half of seeing neighbors at various times of the eve walking up or down or to someone else’s home — in various forms of pjs carrying cocktail in hand.  It was a magical sort of sight to behold.  All of these oddities of course made me feel right at home.

As I searched for some type of shoe to wear to my neighbor’s home (somehow one croc was under the sofa I’m almost positive Olive had something to do with this) I smiled thinking how wonderful it is to head for cocktails in your pjs.  It’s also somewhat like going to the grocery store at 8am on a Saturday in your pj’s, dark sunglasses and a baseball cap (as if the baseball cap and dark shades will completely hide your identity as everyone nods to you and says hi because they too are in the same garb).  All for vanilla creamer.  Which is most important when you realize you are out.  And too sleepy to think about changing thus a baseball cap and dark sunglasses will suffice long enough to run in, grab said vanilla creamer and back home before you can blink.

I’m fairly certain it all boils down to being a bit silly.  And how fun that is.  I’m quite certain that’s what this is all about.

Alas — you’ve never quite fully lived (in my book) – until you’ve headed to a neighbor’s home – in pjs – to have cocktails.

June Book Club Share – Devil in the White City

For our June book we read Devil in the White City.  Very interesting.  Death hag sort of fascination.

I have never attended a Worlds Fair. Have you?

The last one in the US was 1984 in New Orleans.  The last World Fair was in S Korea and the next is in 2015 in Dubai.

For Historic College Park Book Club review click HERE 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn the Buddha

          I usually only mention these thing because they are somewhat amusing to me, and thus I must share. I can’t quite get it out of my head —  It rolls around until I suppose I just can’t take it any longer and  tire from thinking about it.  This is just wondrous and strange.  At least it is to me.  Which is all that really matters I suppose :::smiling and wrinkling nose:::::

          This particular recent Saturday morning, was a very good one (most always are actually) – for reasons that make me smile very much –the sky is a bit bluer and the sun incredibly shiny as of late.   Isn’t that a great feeling. :::beaming::::::  Ok. So.  Back to my story here.   I awakened to let the ‘fat girls’ out (the pugs – Olive and Finn).  I stood outside on the patio stretching and rubbing my eyes much like a 4 year old does upon waking from slumber.  I revert to a 4 year old in the mornings — I’m usually somewhere between 8 and 12 in my internal workings on any given day.  Morning coffee rapidly takes me to my usual 8 year old state.  So you can see how important that first cup is.   My hair was probably Einstein-like at this point.  I did have on pj’s which is a norm in our neighborhood.  We are a pj-kind of wearing crowd.  Many times I’ll see a neighbor walking up the street to visit another neighbor in PJs.  Tastefully of course.  Or at the grocery store.  That’s a given on any weekend especially if I’ve run out of creamer.  I wear sunglasses as to be incognito.  They always manage to greet me by name.  ::::looking sheepish:::::

          As I stood watching the ‘fat girls’ sniff and putter around looking at flowers, wishing they would be a bit more hurried so that I could go back inside and make my coffee….  I noticed someone looking over my roses.  A very pale face hovered between the Knockout hedge. She just stood there staring at me.  I blinked back trying to figure out if she was a neighbor and then slid my glasses off my head and onto my nose where they belonged to look further and more accurately.   The person who continued to just stand and look at me was a very elderly Asian woman.  Chinese? Japanese? Tibetan?  She was stooped, with a very large walking stick taller than her head.  She wore a dark brown robe much like a monk but with pants underneath.  Belted.  An old back pack slung over her shoulders.  She had on some type of hat – reddish orange although I can’t be sure because the sun was up and in my eyes.  I smiled at her which she did not return.  I continued to smile wondering if I was inadvertently exposing myself somehow and quickly looked down to make sure I wasn’t putting her into shock from seeing a naked Kimy too early in the morning.  Nope.  All was covered.  I looked back up to find her pointing to my little Buddha statue I have nested on an old tree stump in the front garden area.  I looked at the statue then at her again.  I smiled again not knowing what to say or do so I just continue to look happy that she had discovered my Buddha.   I haven’t even had coffee yet at this point I would like to share again.

          She finally put her hand down and said ‘You must turn the Buddha to the sunlight.  You must do that.  Turn him to the sunshine.  It will bring you good luck’.  I stood blinking trying to take this in considering I could now smell the finished coffee aroma I so longed for tickling my nose from just inside the door.  She pointed to the statue again.  I smiled.  She repeated her instructions again and I said ‘Oh…Ok.  Thanks.  I’ll do that’.  Blinking and thinking about coffee.  I smiled to make sure she knew I understood and appreciated her concerns for my little Buddha.

          I turned to head in for coffee because I couldn’t stand it any longer and glanced over my shoulder and she was gone.  I think I must have turned my head sideways puzzled as to how she scooted off so quickly.  I’ve never seen this woman before in my life.  I know most everyone in the neighborhood.

          The next day it still rolled around in my head.  Her creased face, with lines running deep.  It was so round and sincere.   Her small black eyes.  The way she just stood there pointing.  The gnarled walking stick was held upright and about a foot taller than she.  Her instructions were so pointed and adamant.  Hm.

          Thus, that day, I toddled out to the little statue and turned him towards the sunrise.  The ‘fat girls’ sniffed at him as if they’ve never seen him before (lie).  I think Olive may have licked him a few times which is her modus operandi. I hoped the small woman would walk by again and know that the goofy blonde lady in her pjs-(who is 4 in the morning) living  in the little yellow chalet respected her instructions.  I hope it made her happy.

          It was an interesting interaction with someone I did not know.  A wondrous and strange moment.  Those are the best kind I think.

He asked and He said yes…… The Uncles Commit —

I believe…….. in love.  Two people who I hold near and dear to my heart exchanged rings and a commitment last night.  Richard and Val – aka ‘The Uncles’.  They are somewhat like the old 70’s TV show ‘The Odd Couple’.   For those who know them can figure out quickly who is Felix and who portrays Oscar.  Ahem.

Friends, family, neighbors and of course our own Father Troy Beecham from St. John’s Episcopal gathered in the magical gardens of the Uncles to exchange vows, rings and make their decade old commitment in front of God, and well — everyone.

About a month ago, Richard and I began plotting and planning a surprise for Val for their ten year anniversary.  A plan was hatched.  I’m horrible at keeping surprises —  I’m a connector and love to share… I kept my silence although I smiled quite a bit and broke into giggles if anything came close to being divulged….Val knew something was up but had no idea…to the scope of what we had planned.  :::bwahhhh ha ha:::::

Richard asked Val to marry him last Wed. evening at The Pecan….  Well…. let me go into that a little bit.  Richard began a dissertation about three steps as to what and how a marriage would proceed between them.  Val sat looking at Richard with furrowed brow for  a minute or two not sure as to what had just taken place. Finally Val said ‘Did you just ask me to marry you?’  Richard shook his head in affirmation.  ‘Oh….well yes then’.  The heavens opened little chubby putti angels fluttered about and all was well with the world.  ::::beaming::::::

Now, for the surprise to take place, Val assumed the small dinner party with a few friends was the surprise last night.  Little did he know a small army was gathering down the street about to melt from the sweltering 102 plus degrees in the Atlanta summer heat down the block.  My surprise for Richard (which was extremely hard not to blurt out over cocktails several times the week before) was that his sister, Mary, had flown in for the affair.  When I received the text that we were all ‘ok’ to begin our trek a block to their garden area, the magic began.

Val and Richard stood as friends and family lined the street to partake in a ceremony of commitment, love and rings.  Richard was shocked when Mary hiding behind a sign that read ‘Someone has to lead the conga line’ popped out with hugs and kisses.  My mother was always heard to say ‘if you don’t make it special, who will?’  which applied many times to so many things last night.  We made it special and it showed.

Food was placed, cocktails were poured and Father Troy began his blessing of the evening.  Richard and Val told their stories of love for one another.  The rings were exchanged and all is right with the world.  ::::dreamy sigh:::::

I believe in love.  And I believe in you.  ::::smiling happily::::::

*** since this posting, ‘The Uncles’ got hitched in NYC – Dec of 2013!

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The Glorious Pile – a super cool blog by a super cool neighbor

I love coming across something that strikes my fancy.  This is one of those times.  And what’s even better – she’s my neighbor!

The Glorious Pile – love the name.  Even more – love what’s in the site!   Interesting pics – great design…. check it out!

Manchester Arms – Historic College Park, Ga

I love neighborhood restaurants.  We are lucky here in Historic College Park to have quite a few neat and well traveled places to dine and enjoy friends & neighbors.  If we’ve had too much merry-making juice (aka for me – Mojito’s or martinis) we can walk home!  Life is good!

Manchester Arms was started by a few neighbors (Tom & Edward), then sold to John & Anna-Kathryn – the new owners who will you meet because they are at the pub a lot!  It has a Cheers like atmosphere – because everyone really does know your name!  We have many locals who you can find seated around the beautiful bar (Don Shomaker – Outyonder), outdoor patio (the sweet potato vines are doing great this year) inside or upstairs.  We are all over the place.

My favorite dish to nibble on (pig out) are the Blue Cheese Chips, Shepard Pie or Shrimp & Grits.  Is your mouth watering just yet? Mine is and it’s only 9am on a Wed.

I dined here last night and my dinner companion who has lived in England previously, had much to say about the Fish n Chips which are a favorite among many!  He thought they were very authentic and quite delish.

So….. meander down our way – and over to Manchester Arms.  You’ll see Dr. Carl (our elderly German Physician) perched on his seat at the corner of the bar – complete with bronze name plate.