Celebrity Apprentice All Star Ice Cream Vote

Oh my good heavens to Betsy I love this show.

This is my 3rd season to watch religiously.

We're down two finalists, one who talks like this,  "Hi, I'm Trace Adkins"  even when he's really happy. When he's not happy, he just growls, and Penn Jillette, whose name sounds like a brand of pen that doubles as a razor.

Before the show, I was only nominally acquainted with either finalist. For instance, I did not know that the other half of Penn and Teller does not speak publicly. After watching Penn for two seasons, I think the reason Teller does not speak is that Penn speaks so much there's no oxygen left in the room for Teller to gather thoughts in order to speak.

Anyway, we're down to two finalists, and fans can vote for one or the other by purchasing Walgreen's brand ice cream "Delish" (who knew?) which each finalist's team has created (I think that's a stretch--they combined a couple of ice cream goody bits with ice cream flavors and slapped a fun name on the product.)

I'm in Penn's camp for some reason, AND, I thought his ice cream sounded more *delish* than Trace's ice cream.

So last night after an hour-long weight-loss inspired walk, my husband presented me with a carton of "Swirtle" Delish ice cream, described as "Rich vanilla with a sea salt chocolate swirl and fudge caramel candy pieces." As ice cream goes, it was OK. Mostly vanilla. So I think they should have named it, "Hunt for the Tiny Turtle Head So That You Can Nom It" or something like that, but then that sounds cruel and maybe illegal, especially if you live on a beach which protects turtles, like the beach I live on in my head.

So I'm anticipating the voting results. I wish I had a button to wear today to show that I voted. Hey, Penn ... good luck, and Trace, you too. 

My Mother's Day in Pictures

My 20 year old "baby."

My best grandma face. The rest were hideous.

Kristin and George singing the impromptu "Happy Mother's Day" song to Katie on her first Mother's Day.

The First Time Mama

The elusive son.

The dog. Who is old enough to be a grandma, too.

My girls and I. 

And the "dub" in the "lub dub" of my heartbeat, my granddaughter:

Mother's Day 2013

My mother was born in 1925.

I was born in 1962.

At 87 and 50, respectively, we're still going strong. Especially my mom.

She lived through the tail end effects of the Great Depression and the death of her beloved father when she was only 14. He had cancer.

She lived through WWII which took her 20 year old husband away and returned to her a man who resembled the one who left but was of course changed on the inside. They worked that out.

She lived through more wars, deaths of beloved family members and four live births sans epidurals.

She raised three pretty good, low-maintenance boys and one AWESOME girl full of DRAMA and high anxiety who wore her out with shopping demands, cheerleading tryouts and boy problems. She has claimed she prayed more than one boy right out of my life. I believe it.

Now she is a grandma and great grandma.

And her husband of 71 years is fighting a cancer that is ravaging his body but not their spirits. Mom and Dad still tell each other every night how much they love each other and remind each other how much God is helping them.

At 87, she is  remembering all of Dad's meds (and hers) and lifting him, comforting him, praying for him, encouraging him, fluffing his pillows, dressing his wounds, supplying his favorite foods, sharing everything just like normal to the best of her ability ... and her ability?  It is expansive and strong.

She also credits God for that.

So I'm doing my best to help her, but it's hard for her receive help, even from the daughter born late to her who "owes" her a great debt of love and wants to help. It's just a difficult thing for her.

Yesterday I spent most of the afternoon with my folks and my youngest brother. We thought we were in a crisis moment with my dad, but it resolved. And then he ate an ice cream sandwich. One un-shared ice cream sandwich has never brought any group of people such satisfaction and relief, I am sure.

But I watched her gather herself, call hospice again and again, relay details, comfort my dad, talk to us, offer us coffee, correct our misconceptions about what we thought was going on with Dad, etc. It was exhausting for me, and I am only 50.

They say as you age, you see your mom in your reflection in the mirror. I see the resemblance in photos, such as in the photo I posted below. That sideways glance with tilted chin? I do that. I've seen it in pictures of myself. She has always been beautiful, and even now, people cannot believe she's 87.

So I hope I age well and still look good at 87 and am physically strong. But you can guess what I'm going to say next: I also hope I've inherited some of that devotion to God and marriage and some of that strength to do beyond what I think I can, both physically and emotionally--to endure and carry the legacy forward.

Mom has never achieved great things for society, except that "small" job of raising 4 good kids. She holds no advanced degrees but has taught little Sunday School children that God loves them; that's a pretty big message. She has not traveled much but made our home a relaxing retreat from the world. She never lived in a mansion but treated her home as such with her appreciation and pride. She never made millions but regularly shared what she had with those less fortunate. She did not fill our schedules with organized activities and field trips when we were little, but she was always "there" for us, physically and emotionally. She was never a socialite, but she captured one man's heart for his entire life.

That is my legacy, my mother. Mom, I love you. Happy Mother's Day 2013.

Cardigan Queen (Sorry, Billy Ocean)

The other day I told some friends I bought 4 cardigans on sale. I love the cardigan, so versatile. Top a dress, a tank top, whatever. They're all-seasonal, even in summer because in the sweltering Midwest our restaurants and stores are airconditioned to the hilt.

I said, "I am the cardigan queen." And then it happened. This song crept into my brain.

So now every time I wear one of my many cardigans, which is nearly daily, I am forced to pay mental and sometimes audible ode to Billy Ocean for Caribbean Queen. Only I sing "cardigan queen."

Here is Billy:

Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen - Vidéo Dailymotion

Spring (Give Me a) Break

So my daughter is coming home for spring break today. I'm hoping we can have as an exciting a week together as we did last year at spring break when she came into my office and helped me with menial tasks.

Seriously. What to do in a small town where spring break falls at the tail end of winter?

Well, we'll have to get some groceries since she's not a vegetarian.
We might see a movie.

Shoo, that was easy! Spring break 2013: 'twill be a year to remember! (probably in a sad picture which I will post next year.)