MY GRANDBABIES Max (6 yrs) & Annelise (3 yrs). They are so much fun and I'm having a blast. I get to relive the fun times when my own children were young without all that heavy responsibility! LOL They are so precious and beautiful and amazing - I feel like the luckiest grandmother in the world.
ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS: Actually all books. Old or new, I love the feel of them, the smell of them. Steve and I have amassed an impressive collection of books - the oldest published in 1645. The subjects are varied: childhood favorites like Dick, Jane & Sally and WizOz, Scottish authors and poets like Sir Walter Scott and Robbie Burns, history & travel books, classics, special interest... we love them all. Thankfully, Steve shares my passion and is always willing to go book hunting with me. I love that man!
SCOTLAND: Particularly Edinburgh and The Highlands. Steve and I are both proud of our Scottish roots and our favorite city in the world is Edinburgh. We escape to our flat on the Royal Mile every chance we get and make it a point to be there during the New Year celebration (Hogmanay) and during August (festival month). We got married in Scotland and plan to retire there. Sometimes living in Belgium can feel like living on another planet, but living in Edinburgh is like living in a different time. The city has such spirit - if you've never been there, put it on your list of things to do before you shuffle off this mortal coil. I promise you won't be disappointed.
TRAVEL: The best part about living in Belgium is that I can hop in the car, drive an hour (or less) in any direction, and be OUT of Belgium! France, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and even the United Kingdom are all just a road trip away. I love living in Europe and getting to see sights I only dreamed about when I was growing up in New Jersey. London, Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Rome, Nice, Venice, Dublin, Marseilles, Sicily, Tunisia, Naples, Majorca, Heidelberg, Brussels, Marbella and every little European village in between. Sometimes I have to pinch myself - afraid I'm going to wake up and find myself back in New Jersey like a bad dream sequence from an evening soap!
Music
I couldn't begin to list my music interests here - they're wide and varied. I mostly listen to Richard Searles and new age stuff when I'm working - keeps my head clear and my mind focused. In the car I like oldies (which don't really seem like oldies to me because I remember when they weren't), rock 'n roll, and show tunes - at dinner I like classical, the blues, big band... it all depends on my mood really. I'm having a "Gemini" moment here - I just can't pick a favorite. I have about 50 "favorite songs" from Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" to The Drifters "Up on the Roof." And then there's Judy Garland and "Over the Rainbow" ... anything by Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Zepplin, Floyd, Grateful Dead... oh yeah, and the Moody Blues.... stop me before I think again!
Movies
THE WIZARD OF OZ (obviously) - my favorite movie in all the world. I have a bit of an obsession with it to be honest. An entire room of my home (aka "The Shrine") is dedicated to my collection of Oz memorabilia. When I married my Knight in Shining Armor I wore red shoes in homage to Dorothy. Yeah, I guess you could call it an obsession. Besides Oz, I love all the Pixar stuff like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Shark Tales, and Monsters, Inc. (do you see a pattern developing here?). For grown-up viewing I'm always open to a romantic comedy (typical chick-flick stuff), or just romance, or just comedy (but not sophmoric comedy with toilet humor - sorry.... I didn't think "Animal House" or "Porky's" was all that funny).
At the other end of the spectrum (typical dick-flick fare), I can't stand action adventures with car chases and explosions or sports movies like "Field of Dreams." I mean really, what was THAT all about???
I have a problem with slasher flicks as well - we've desensitized an entire generation into thinking graphic murder is good, fun, entertainment - and now we're working on desensitizing their kids and grandkids. Way to go Hollywood - now let's all stand around and scratch our heads and ask one another "what the hell is the matter with society these days?" The trauma of murder and senseless violence is a stark reality for far too many families in the US. I've seen the aftermath up close and personal and it's far from "entertaining."
Television
I'm a shameless reality TV viewer. Yeah, yeah... I know it's pure junk, I know it rots your brain, I know it's voyeurism - but it's like a train wreck, I can't help but watch. The fact that it constitutes 90% of the TV line-up doesn't help matters any. I think of it as mind candy. After a hard day of (mental) work it feels good to watch something I don't have to think about. And besides, it makes me appreciate how wonderful my life is in comparison. If you're ever feeling bad about your life, tune in to Reality TV. Your life is not that bad - honest.
Books
Love 'em all !!!
Heroes
Where to begin... where to begin... my world is filled with heroes...
My family - they've taught me so much...
Everyday people who make a difference in this world in ways big and small...
People who have overcome tremendous obstacles in their lives...
The men and women of the US military. They are true heroes in every sense of the word and I have the utmost respect for all of them. They come under constant scrutiny and endure a lot of criticism while they serve a grateful, yet fickle, nation. They're always caught in the middle of partisan political battles and yet I haven't met one who is not proud to serve. I think it's just one of those jobs that you do out of real love for your country. Let's face it - they're not in it for the money.
Firefighters.... you couldn't pay me enough to go into a burning building, but I'm eternally grateful there are folks willing to do it. Now THAT'S heroism...
Police officers... they do a thankless, dangerous job that none of us could do, while society sits and second-guesses their every move. Make all the donut jokes you want, just remember cops are your best friend when you need them. But let just one make a split-second decision to use deadly force on some punk pointing a starter pistol at them and half the city marches in protest. And if they hesitate and it turns out NOT to be a starter pistol and some 4-yr old kid gets caught in the cross fire... well, the city marches again. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't - yet they go out there every day and do their jobs, and they do it well. You can't get more heroic than that in my eyes.
I work for my Uncle Bumflip, BE Queen of Friggin' Everything Family Business
1976 to the Present
Glinda the Good Witch of the North is sick and achy but I can't go to bed. Too much to do. The movers are coming tomorrow. I'll be back in the States by Saturday! Yeah! Posted at 5:10 PM Sep 20 view more
Let's get the DEMOGRAPHICS out of the way: Born and raised in South Jersey, but live and work in Belgium after moving to Europe seven years ago. Mother to Duke (in Stuttgart, Germany) & Amanda (in Amsterdam), Stepmother to Jennifer (Utah), grandmother to Max & Annelise (they call me "Mimi") - grands living in Germany as well. Very happily married to Steve, my Best Friend and Knight in Shining Armor. Steve came equipped with a classic, restored '76 MG so we have a great time tooling around Europe with the top down - wrench in one hand, steering wheel in the other. We especially enjoy the MG Club road rallies - what a fabulous group of folks.
We were married in a candlelit, 14th century chapel at Balgonie Castle near Markinche in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland. Hey, if a castle is good enough for Madonna it's certainly good enough for me! Steve was all kilted out in his family tartan (Michael of Appin) and carried a mean-looking basket-hilt sword that you can't see in the photo and a sghian dubh (small dagger) in his "hose" (they don't call them socks). Yeah, he was packing all sorts of steel so I just said "I do" and didn't argue - what with the whole "till death do us part" clause and all I wasn't taking any chances, you know? Steve's full-mask sporran (that's Scottish for "fanny pack with a face on it") is good old North American racoon in homage to his Tennessee roots. The Scots go crazy when they see it and all the women want to touch it. I swear Steve got it just so strange women on the street will walk up to him and ask if they can pet his sporran - the man can be shameless at times! My gown was gold brocade and Thai silk, and I wore a silk wrap in Steve's tartan (yeah, yeah... the bride wore plaid folks... you can take the girl outta Jersey BUT...!). I wore red shoes in homage to Dorothy "There's-No-Place-Like-Home" Gale (from Kansas) and my tiara was handmade in Ireland for the occasion (awesome - I slept in it!). Our children gave us away (they've been dying to do that for YEARS no doubt) and stood as our witnesses. A candlelight wedding feast was held in the castle's Great Hall (yes, we served haggis!) with bagpipers and bodhran players, a Highland Fling competition, and lots and lots of Scotch (naturally) - a good time was had by all. The next day, we took our guests (hangovers and all) on a guided bus tour of the Scottish Highlands - the whole thing lasted three days (including the "Night 'Afore" party) and oh what wonderful memories we have! Here's the two-minute MTV version of the festivities:
I'm an animal lover with a particular fondness for cats - in fact, I couldn't imagine life without one. I'm currently owned by "Big Louie" - one very large black & white tuxedo cat rescued by my daughter. He's quite a gentleman and a bit of a cause celebre after he perpetrated an international incident when we lived in Brussels that involved the Ambassadors of three different countries (one now defunct - the country, not the Ambassador - but that wasn't Louie's fault). It's a story for another time.
The one downside to living in Europe is my phenomenal friends back in the States. Wonderful, incredible, strong, talented women who constantly amaze me (you know who you are - I'm not gonna make a list here). I'm grateful for their love and friendship and I miss them tremendously. There never seems to be enough time when I come back for a visit, but we pick up like it was yesterday.
We're about five years away from retirement and plan to spend half our time at our place in Edinburgh, Scotland and the other half in Aguilas, Spain on the Costa Colida where we just purchased a home. I look forward to spending my winters in Spain like a true snowbird!
I own an impressive collection of tiaras and I think everyone should own at least one. My favorite is my wedding tiara (see photo) - handcrafted in Ireland of pearls, crystals and faux rubies, emeralds and topaz (faux - ahhhh... the French can even make "fake" sound good, can't they?). My fascination with tiaras started at a very early age with the old TV show "Queen for a Day" (early 60's - remember that?) and grew through the years. I vowed I would own a tiara someday and well.... the rest, as they say, is history. I remember making a tiara out of twisty-ties and the beads from my mother's broken necklace when I was around eight - it was simply gorgeous and I treasured it for years until the wire rotted and it fell apart. I'm so happy to see they are in vogue again and little girls don't have to resort to the twisty-tie/costume jewelry method. I have given away numerous tiaras to those "in need" (of a tiara that is). I don't care what kind of day you're having - when you plop a tiara on your head, all is right with the world. Bedhead? Impossible with rhinestones! Cleaning the bathroom? Whip out the Everyday Tiara (please, not the Evening or Formal Tiara) and Own that Throne, Baby! It's all good, it really is.
I'm INSANELY happy with my life and although it's taken some twists and turns to get here I have absolutely no regrets, not a single one. Every obstacle along the way, every unwise decision I ever made, every relationship that didn't quite work out - has taught me something and shaped the person I've become. Perhaps most importantly, I LIKE who I am... and I feel sorry for people (especially young girls) with self-esteem issues, those who aren't comfortable in their own skin. Sad really
Who I'd like to meet: Mark Twain (he'd be a hoot to hang out with and his social commentary on the 21st century would be priceless), Princess Diana (my heroine - we'd spend the day trying on her ass-kicking tiara collection and phoofy dresses), George Washington (I'd love to interview him and get the inside scoop on the American Revolution), my Pop-Pop (who I never got to know because he died before I was born).
Oh wait... you mean NOW? Well, anyone with a sense of humor and a story to tell, folks with interests similar to mine, people from my old stomping grounds - love that South Jersey/Eastern PA cynical humor and 'tude (I do miss home altho I doubt I'll ever return to the area for any length of time), in short I want to meet normal people... real people.
Hi kim. Guess what?! Kyle is a two time all american he placed 6th on rings and 2nd on p bars by .1 at NCAA national gymnastics championships last night. It is sooo cool. Hope all is well with you and Steve and if there is anything you need. Let me know. Still want to get back to see you. Soon I hope. Love kathleen
I miss you all also....I'm hoping that you and Steve are doing better...I know that when you lose a loved one it never really gets easier....Fredia and I are both thinking of you and Steve. I wish I had my mallet here...I'd hit some people with it every day....EN CHollette!!!! When do you guys PCS to VA?
Re: my status. Duh Kim. Both. Don't come back. Save yourself before it's too late. We will send you Louie and all your things. Move somewhere nice and pretend this place never existed. That's what I'm gonna do in 11 months. Time cannot pass quickly enough. I would actually sell the next 11 months of my life to Satan if he would JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE.
hi there........sending good thoughts your way. I am sure it is rough. we will keep you in our thoughts. tell steve hi from us. keep us posted and let us know when you are coming back. t
no i will not unless you stop aging then i will be in trouble lol i have had alot on me have not been on the forum much things with the hubby not been great and my son but i am hoping it will get better
Aw Kim I'm so sorry. I'm glad you guys are pulling through together. I take it things are going for the worse now? College is good. Trying to finally settle into a balance and a schedule. But I'm really enjoying it so far.
