The Sock Monkey

Meet my Sock Monkey. He doesn't have a name. I think he did at one time, I kindof remember it being Jimmy.

Now, I just call him

SOCK MONKEY!
I got him as a Christmas gift from my Great-Grandmother, Beulah Rahmann, 40 some years ago. She made him as well as dozens of these little monkeys, from yes, red socks, plastic sandwich bags (his stuffing), and a couple of beads for his eyes. My sister, Julie, also had one. Hers looked like Jimmy's older brother. A little taller and different bead eyes. I don't know if she still has him. I imagine not.

Somehow, over the years I have let things go, but he has always remained with me. He is missing some stuffing and his tail. But he is still cute. He wasn't a favorite toy. He mostly sat on a shelf in my room, and I rarely played with him.

I do more now than I did then.

You see, I find him really funny. Especially, because my oldest daughter HATES him. Yes, Emily is afraid of "Sock Monkeys". Over the years, I have taken some warp pleasure in scaring my daughters with him. He would appear in their bed, in dresser drawers. sneaking up their bed (with me hiding behind him).

Recently, I sent Emily a text with his picture. She is going to be pissed at me for this blog entry too. Especially because she will notice that he is on her bed.

Seriously, what is wrong with me? I am giggling as I write. Sergio gets mad at me when I tease her but I just cant stop. Annie never let it bother her, she just laughed it off and tried to scare me with one of her little stuffed animals.

I think Emily isn't really scared. More like she thinks it is creepy. She couldn't believe they got popular a few years ago. Everyone thought they were cute, except Emily. She was the only one of her friends that had even seen a sock monkey before let alone had a crazy Mom with one.

I think he is so cute! He makes me smile. He gives me laugh lines.

Evil little sock monkey? Nah.. he is so cute! Maybe if I get one for Emily, she will grow to love them.

Sock Monkey Loves You Emily!

What's This?

Here we go again!

I really was trying to grasp this whole aging thing. I am starting to accept certain changes my body has been making. Embrace it... almost.

• Lines on the face? laugh lines, I have had many smiles!
• Little extra weight? healthy, smooths the wrinkles!
• Menopause? kindof look forward to the end of periods!
• Hot Flashes? finally, I am not freezing!

See? I am making some good out of some bad.

Embracing... yeah, trying.

BUT... now I noticed my hands are turning old! Yes, it's true. Yucko Old Lady Hands! I am pissed. Also, my arms! They lost that elasticity. I swear, I did not recognize my own arm!

I am not looking forward to what is next!!!

The Flamingo Lounge

The Flamingo Lounge is an exclusive members only "club". It has five members. Four middle-aged women, and a Female Black Labrador, named Gabby.

It was formed a few years back, but the actual members only, is something of recent management decision. It is located at the founding member's home, in her Family Room. The membership consist of four life-long friends, and the guarding puppy of one of the members.

These are the membership passes. I had my membership card for less than 24 hours when I lost it. Causing me to go on probation. Lost my rights to chose the television channel, the movie to watch. Any executive decisions were provoked from me. (The dog had more rights than me).

Luckily I found my pass the other day. It now sits with the remaining passes, as seen in the photo above. I am officially off that dang probation!

{The bullets? Private joke. Something about biting the bullet.}

Hanging at The Flamingo is heaven. Just me and my girlfriends. No drama, no expenses. We can speak our minds, ask any questions. We can vent, cry, or be silly. I can be educated or stimulated by the conversations between two of my girlfriends. The food is great, (whatever we want! usually appetizers). Great conversation, great laughs, and great memories in the making.

The only thing that would make this better, is if the MIA member, (she lives in another state), was able to be be here with us. She is in spirit, and by phone, but I really wish we had her here by our side all the time.

I am the most blessed person there is when it comes to friendships.

Friends come and go mostly in a lifetime.

Not my lifetime.

I got the keepers!

Fortune Cookies

We had fortune cookies at Annie's graduation party. I thought this was a fun idea. All seem to enjoy them.

I have always liked fortune cookies. I remember when I was a little girl, my parents went to a Chinese Restaurant and Mom brought Julie & I home the fortune cookies. I was hooked from that point on. Disappointed the first time went to a Chinese restaurant, thinking I would love the food like the cookies. I was wrong! Asian Cuisine is not my cup of tea!

Fortune Cookies are interesting. I don't "believe" in them. However, I do read them and I make them apply. Sometimes I will get surprised by one that is right on target. It's like, "hmmm. This is so true!"

A couple of very interesting ones I received recently are the following:

"Friends long absent are coming back to you."

I recently reconnected with Lynn. I could not be happier about that reconnection.

another one was:

"You will get your hearts desire."

We are in the process of getting a house that I am in love with and can see myself living there for the rest of our lives happily ever after.

I also got one saying I was "going to have a new love affair"

Then I met Tinka the bunny that has melted my heart. (not always quite what you think). It is a love affair in a sense. Tinka certainly has captured my heart.

Coincidence? I wonder.

I find it all interesting.

Do we manipulate things when we have a idea put into our thoughts?

Is it what it is, or is it all by chance?

Either way, I will continue to have fun with these silly little fortunes. I will make what I want of them and I will continue to eat the yummy cookies!