Non-Stop Growing

I don't honestly know how you mamas of the world manage to accept the non-stop growth of your kids! I'm just an Auntie... Mama to no kid, but loving, spoiling, bad influence for all of them. But even in my "just an Auntie" role, I don't know how you mamas can sit by and watch your kids grow up! Why on earth haven't you stopped them?!

Today is the birthday of my 2nd oldest niece. I had to use the calculator to figure out how old she is, and I really think my calculator must be broken because it said she's 23-years old. That clearly isn't possible... I'm not even 23-years-old, am I?

YIKES! It's certainly no joke that the years go by more quickly as we age. I barely feel like I should have reached 30, though 40 is breathing down my neck. And now I'm facing the reality that Sweet Sarah is 23, and my itty-bitty Doodle-Bug will be 18 in a few short weeks.

Dammit! These kids are making me feel old!

XO
Jodi

In Loving Memory of “Uncle” Jimmy McDaniels

“Uncle” Jimmy was a jazz musician in the Indy area for all of my growing up years, and he was an integral part of my childhood. He was a good friend to my parents and an excellent Uncle to my siblings and myself. He was my family's "Piano Man", and he is the reason that particular song was one of my dad’s favorites.

I have such fond memories of birthday parties at Aristo’s, where Jimmy would play the piano and lead the entire restaurant in “Happy Birthday” while a cake, complete with sparklers for candles, was brought to the table of the birthday kid. I remember very well my 10th birthday… my best friend, Jackie, accompanied me to Aristo’s… Uncle Jimmy sensed Jackie’s unease at approaching the piano (the center of attention), and he spoke to Jackie in Spanish. Of course he had to translate his own words, which were “I love you”… He had such a beautiful way of making everyone feel loved!

I can’t honestly count the number of times I sat beside Uncle Jimmy at the piano to “help” him play a song… though I was just plunking down on a couple of keys, while he was making the song sound beautiful. I will never, ever forget the Christmas celebrations my family spent with Jimmy. Mom would bake him pies – perhaps as a bribe that would allow her off-key brood to stand behind his piano and belt out song after song after song. Jimmy had a way of making us all feel like we could sing on Broadway if we wanted.

He wasn’t just an excellent friend and Uncle… he was a musician, through and through. In addition to his piano prowess, he played a mean alto saxophone, and he led his own orchestra for several years. I have terrific memories of summer days lazing in the park and watching him command his group of musicians.

Uncle Jimmy was a formative part of my childhood. My younger brother was named James Andrew, in Jimmy’s honor… Jimmy sang “Sunrise, Sunset” at four of my family’s weddings (including my first). Jimmy was always gracious and so loving! His friendship and his music will be missed, not just by my family, and by all of the families he touched so beautifully.

“Jimmy’s talents as a performer and conductor are well known. He has performed with and conducted for such stars as Cab Calloway, June Christy, Nat "King" Cole, Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nellie Letcher and many others.” (http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcdaniels).

God Bless You, Uncle Jimmy! I know that your voice will be a beautiful addition to the chorus of angels in heaven.

XO
Jodi

P.S. To those who aren't aware, the sideburns in the above photo (though it's an old photo) are a "Jimmy McDaniels" trademark. I never knew Uncle Jimmy without those sideburns... and I think (at least in my memory), they've always been gray! :)

Fave Photo Friday

The Pacific Ocean! Specifically the beach at The Cliff House in San Francisco, CA.

Happy Weekend!

XO

Jodi

The Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday I was in hog heaven, lapping up the birthday wishes and fun. Today, I'm in pain and beginning to think that maybe this aging thing is catching up with me.

I first noticed a nagging lower backache the Monday after Easter. I assumed I must have played to hard with the nieces and nephews and somehow strained a muscle. The pain went away after a few days, so I thought nothing more of it... until Monday of this week. I chalked this newest pain up to a sprint I'd made from my car to Sister Katie's front door (sprinting in high heeled shoes is a bad idea, by the way), and hoped the pain would quickly go away.

Sadly what began as another nagging ache is now more like an acute, constant pain. No sitting or standing position is comfortable at all. I hate to lie in bed on such a beautiful weather evening, but I'm afraid that's just what I'll have to do. It seems to be time for a little snuggle with my friend Mr. Heating Pad. I hope I'm feeling better in time for the weekend. It's going to be gorgeous outdoors and I'm not sure I can keep myself from plant shopping and gardening fun!

I suppose some down time tonight will give me a chance to finish my latest cheesy novel. Gotta find the bright side!
XO
Jodi

Fave Photo Friday

My Great-Niece, Ari and Uncle Bill... who is her Great-Great Uncle. WOW!

Happy Weekend!

XO

Jodi

"Precious Memories"

I'm a big fan of country music singer Alan Jackson. Those who know me best aren't surprised by this revelation. Tonight I want to recommend Alan's "Precious Memories" CD to anyone who hasn't already checked it out. It's not new, so you might have already picked it up, but if you haven't yet, I hope you will!

It's a collection of Christian hymns... old stand-bys and maybe one or two you haven't heard in a long while.

I've been listening to it while working tonight and I love it just as much today as I did when I first picked it up. I hope you will love it too!

XO
Jodi

Common Sense Chronicles

Smart cars perform poorly in crash tests! Really? Who'd a Thunk it?

Duh!
XO
Jodi

Easter Weekend Update

Friday was FULL. I ended up having to drive to four different stores for the makings of my cake pops, and I still didn't come home with everything I wanted/needed. Bob got home while I was stuffing eggs for the family hunt. Once the job was finished we headed out for a date night at Red Lobster. It's become something of a Good Friday tradition for us. Bob gets his seafood (blech!) and I get to devour those delightful cheddar biscuits (along with yummy butter-ladened pasta)!

We relaxed for a bit on Saturday morning, but soon it was time to bake the cake and assemble the cake pops. This did not go well. I tried to make those adorable chickies that Bakerella showed on her website, but the sprinkles and decorations I'd had such a hard time finding on Friday just weren't right... the chickies looked like big yellow balls with the tiniest feet and eyes... They had no beaks at all because I stupidly put back the rainbow chips, thinking I preferred the flower petal candies.

I could tell myself that they'd turn out better with the right tools/sprinkles, but the reality is that I'm just not that crafty. I ended up ditching the lollipop sticks altogether and making basic cake balls with yellow candy coating and sprinkles. They turned out cute enough. It was a classic Jodi baking experiment (ie: Not Quite Right). On the flip side, the banana bread turned out beautifully. The recipe I use is from a cookbook I was part of creating a few years ago, and it hasn't failed me yet. (Thanks, Laura!) I'd love to tell you that it was a huge hit at Bob's office, but he neglected to take it with him to work this morning. Perhaps his co-workers will enjoy it tomorrow? Or maybe Bob's planning to keep it all to himself. We'll see.

Sunday was delightful! We visited with Bob's folks for a few hours (and a lovely brunch) in the morning. Then we headed to Sister Jean's, where the crazy family was gathered. Lunch was delicious! We had ham, mac and cheese, fruit, baked beans, potato salad, veggies and more. The nieces and nephews had a great time hunting eggs and counting their loot. And I got in a few good cuddling minutes with our newest addition, Cecilia. Her big sister Kasey calls her Cela (pronounced "Sell-a")... too cute!

The cake balls were a big hit, despite the fact that they didn't look like chickies. Everyone who tried them (*cough, cough* Katie) raved over them, and loads of folks asked how to make them... even 10-year-old Logan asked for the recipe! Of the 40+ balls I took to the party, I think there were only 6 or 7 remaining when we left.

Bob and I took Uncle Bill home after the family fun, and UB nearly begged me to schedule our annual flower planting expedition by writing it on his calendar. I hope he understood me as I explained that it was still too cold for us to plan that outing, and that I would call to let him know when it's time. For Uncle Bill's sake and mine, I hope it warms up soon... for keeps!

XO
Jodi

Hooray for a 3-Day Weekend!

I don't have to work tomorrow! My company is owned by a Jewish family, but they give us Good Friday as a paid holiday. Hooray!

I have my work cut out for me tomorrow and Saturday. Tomorrow I'll be stuffing plastic eggs for the big family Easter egg hunt. I also have to get to the store to pick up edible decorations for making these beauties. I can't decide if I should make one batch or two... just chickies or chickies and eggs. And if I make only one, should start with yellow cake/white icing or carrot cake/cream cheese icing? Decisions, decisions. Please voice your opinion if you have one!

Saturday will be baking day. Not just the cute chickies/eggs, but also some banana bread with walnuts for Bob to take to work on Monday. (I have walnuts leftover from an earlier baking day and I'm not a fan of nutty bread.) I bought these strange bananas last week that still have not completely turned from green to yellow, though they have gotten fairly mushy. We like our bananas on the firm side around here, but something about this particular bunch just made them look unappetizing. They have remained untouched in the fruit bowl... thus are destined for bread-making.

Sunday is Easter, of course. We'll be heading to Bob's folks' house for brunch and then we're off to Sister Jean's for my family's gathering. It will be a full day, but I'm sure it will be loads of fun!

Happy Easter/Passover to all!
XO
Jodi

Weekend Update – A Day Late & A Dollar Short

Flashing back to last weekend... I took off from work early on Friday because we were in a holding pattern, waiting for a client to send the goods. I came home and cleaned some of the house and felt better for having not spent those last couple of hours surfing the Internet.

Saturday's weather was delicious! Bob spent the day clearing the never-ending yard debris, and running the mower over the lawn for the first time this season. I did some cleaning and the grocery shopping. I hate that the grocery list is never-ending. I wasn't home from the store for four hours before we started jotting down items we need on the next trip!

Sunday was a quiet day for me, the weather was cold and drab and ugly. Bob headed off to his scotch-doubles league around noon-time and I did some laundry, and other menial home-cleaning tasks. Why is it I'm always cleaning?! I'm the furthest thing from a neat freak anyone could imagine, but still I seem to be cleaning all the time! I need to join a league of something... Is there a league of woman avoiding housework? If I'm at my league-thing, Bob will have to clean, right? HA!

After dinner yesterday, Bob took over the PC in order to start calculating our taxes. I told you he's a procrastinator! Good news is that it looks like we'll only owe a tiny bit.

I've been hoping to force us both into an all-out spring-cleaning weekend... but... Easter is this weekend, the next is Sister Fran's b-day party and our sweet niece Cecilia's baptism. The following weekend includes dinner with Bob's folks and another Sunday pool gig for Bob. At this rate we won't get our Spring cleaning done before summer kicks in!

In other news: I've re-committed myself to drinking more water. I have a hard time with water intake in the cold winter months. That being said, I can't decide if I have an enlarged prostate, or I'm drinking entirely too much water. I've made the quarter-mile trek to the front of my office building A LOT these past two days.

XO
Jodi

Fave Photo Friday

My Baby Mama!

Happy Weekend!

XO

Jodi

Addict

This is difficult for me, but they say (whoever they are) that admitting the problem is the first step to recovery, right?


Hi, my name is Jodi, and I'm an addict.


I am a Scrabble addict... especially computer scrabble. I have wasted countless hours of my life in front of the computer placing virtual tiles onto virtual game boards and beating the program at its own game.


Now that I've established my prowess against the computer's "intermediate" level, I'm going to have to try my hand at the "veteran" level.

What can I say? I love words!

XO

Jodi