Thank you for making 2008 a year full of friendship, love, and kindness. As I look back, I know I've been blessed in too many ways to count. I'm not very successful at keeping resolutions, so I'm not going to disappoint anyone by starting now. I hope to do a better job of paying it forward in 2009. I didn't do as much fundraising, and I could have given more blood.....my efforts will improve on both fronts this coming year.

I have met a few blogging friends in the last nine months that I've been blogging. Here in Texas I spent a wonderful day with Briana and Cortney last Spring. Then in the fall, I met up with Jason, his spouse Giancarlo, his son Diego, Kim from Pumpkin Delight, Hula Hank and his family from the land of wallabies, in Southern California for a wonderful brunch.

Bloggers I hope to meet in 2009. The East Coast hooligans, specifically the gang in Mathews County Virginia, if they ever get their Blogapalooza plans up and running....then swing by Virginia Beach to see my boyfriend Cooper. I will definitely be there in Austin when The Incredible Woody crosses the finish line on her bike ride. I might be driving to Denver, which means I might check up on Hollywood even though she doesn't have a blog.

On the California front, there are two very special ladies who I have to meet one day. I've known them the longest...through my grandson's leukemia journey. That would be Marey and Postcard Cindy. As I mentioned before, Marey's daughter had leukemia too, and it's amazing how many wonderful people I have met through childhood cancer....Briana is another person that came into my life that way.

So, If you happen to be on my route as I travel, or if you find yourself in my neck of the woods give me a shout!!

Thank you friends and God bless you in 2009

Don't Drop The Ball ......

....yet! Tomorrow night, a zillion people will be in Times Square to ring in the new year as a 11,875 pound Waterford Crystal ball drops. It will be televised and another twelve zillion drunks people will whoop and holler from their living rooms.

Of course we used to always ran out into the street banging the lids to pots and pans together, or grabbing a huge soup pot and beating it like a drum with a wooden spoon. Here at the Compound, that is probably against the by-laws.

Speaking of the Compound....did I tell you that someone called to have my new car towed because it didn't have a parking decal on the windshield? No, it wasn't the front office or security that called, it was a tenant. I ran out and convinced the tow truck driver that I was the owner, and I forgot all about the "sticker rule". He let me go, even though once they roll, they like to be compensated. I gave him $5 as a goodwill gesture. I'm telling you, I am the only one in my four unit building that even owns a dang vehicle...there are plenty of parking spaces for everyone and their crazy uncles to park two cars. Ok, that was a bit off subject but I had to get that out.

Back to New Years, or First Night stuff.....I was reading that Hershey PA, has a plethora of First Night events at the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa. At the stroke of midnight, they drop a seven foot aluminum chocolate kiss.

Other festivities include fireworks, bands, dancing, and the Kissmoble! Not to be confused with this....

The Spammobile!

Bethlehem, PA drops a giant PEEP! I kid you not! Do you remember how much I love Peeps? I did a whole post on Peeps, and I covet them more than Hershey kisses. I would give anything to see a friggin giant marshmallow peep, but the peep they drop on First Night is made out of fiberglass..darn it! But the company that makes Peeps donates a zillion of them for people to roast in the plaza! I have never thought of having a Peep roast. I’m adding New Years in Bethlehem to my list of “places and things to do before I die”.

In Elizabethtown, Pa., a huge M&M will be lowered in Center Square at 7 p.m. The town chose 7 p.m. to mark the new year in its sister city, Letterkenney, Ireland. Elizabethtown is home to an M&M Mars plant.

Oh, and just in case you think I’m picking on PA, you are right, because PA cities take the cake with over forty "drops"……Mechanicsburg drops a ten foot WRENCH made out of sheet metal. Other cities in PA drop Fake fish, giant pickles, and flaming farm animals to help ring in the New Year.......you can’ t make this stuff up.

Atlanta drops an 800 lb peach...

A slew of cities in Florida drop an orange....not real ones, balloons and fiberglass neon ones.

Are you ready for another Pennsylvania city drop?? Lebanon’s 12-foot-long,150-pound Bologna Drop ranks among the weirdest ways in the U.S. to bring in the new year.

What does your city drop on New Years Eve?

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS 2009



I'm in the process of compiling a list of things I resolve to do....or not. I thought I would share with you what I've tentatively come up with so far:


Always replace the gas nozzle before driving away from the pump...how can we forget when Rita forgot to replace the nozzle!


Always "check for paper" when leaving the restroom.

If I'm having a bad day, don't take it out on others.


Make every effort to drive closer to the speed limit


Never ever park your BMW next to a fire hydrant.


Always make sure your foot is on the brake, and not the accelerator when you are behind a transit bus. Otherwise, just tell the cops you are Shirl the girl.....Rita's sister.

Try and schedule at least one field trip for your pooch.

And last but not least......

Your mother wasn't kidding when she reminded you to always wear clean underwear, "just in case" you play twister.

Do you have any resolutions you want to share?

FRIDAY MATINEE ON SUNDAY

Seven Pounds



Will Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent in this very emotional drama.

It starts out with a disturbing scene where Ben is calling 911 asking for an ambulance…..and reporting a suicide. When asked who the victim is, he says he is. Right away, I think the movie is going to be narrated from the other side, or Ben survives this attempt, leading him on a life changing journey seeking redemption. There are out of sequence flashbacks intertwined with Ben’s determination to forever change the lives of seven complete strangers for the better.

The movie jumps into several different scenarios without any smooth transitions, and I start to wonder if I missed something. It comes together in fragments and each scene and interaction between Ben and one of his chosen recipients is riveting and dramatic. But then each episode is left incomplete and mysterious with no closure…until the ending.


Ben inadvertently falls in love with Emily, played by Rosario Dawson along the way, even though he struggles to resist.


Woody Harrelson does a good job playing a blind, kind hearted telemarketer who patiently listens as Ben ridicules him unmercifully over the phone. Ben does this as a test to see just how kind he is....making him worthy of his ultimate gift.

I don’t want to give any more of the story line away. I hadn’t seen any trailer of previews prior to seeing the movie, and I’m glad….now! I really thing the timing is right for a movie like this—audiences who need a little luck in their lives could view Ben as one of Smith’s most heroic screen characters yet.




Even though I think this movie is a stretch as to what anyone could realistically do, I give it seven pounds of heart.

......and the sequel is on the horizon

A GRANDMA J TUTORIAL

There are no Native Americans in Texas. At least there aren't any with a Casino. So, if you want to play slots or blackjack, you can fly to Las Vegas, or go to So CA where they have some major casino resorts operated by a whole slew of Tribes...just not the Juanenos. OR.....

I've heard talk about casinos in Oklahoma, close to the Texas border, so I did a Googled little bit of research and found a Winn's Casino just a cross the border off the I35 in Thackerville Oklahoma.

Different stubborn relatives seemed to think the border was almost a three hour drive from Dallas. I was pretty sure the people at Google had a much closer border.

Well, this relative knows someone who drives all the way to Lawton Oklahoma all the time, and it's not a hop skip and a jump. So like, I'm all where the heck is Lawton? Is that where the casino is? I mean Oklahoma is full of Native American casinos....

Instead of engaging in a civil conversation....the conversation was declared "over". And of course Grandma J thought to herself.....not so fast!

So, let's get to Grandma J's Tutorial, shall we?


This is a Google map generated from the Casino's web page.....pretty much a straight shot up the I35 all the way, getting off at exit 1 in Oklahoma. Of course, we all know Google likes to give written directions........

Because, Google doesn't want you to miss one single turn going from your home to the interstate. And according to them, the total miles is 217.

This second map shows the distance from Dallas to the final destination right smack across the Oklahoma border. Just a short jaunt of 79.2 miles.

Now if you didn't want to go to the Winn Casino in Thackerville, OK, you might want to go to Lawton. Especially if you have a friend or coworker who has family there, and makes the trip frequently......

Because that's a much longer trip. Google has the straight shot at 311 miles. But we had briefly disagreed about discussed how far Lawton was from Dallas. Don't know why, but for the sake of argument, because we never do, I put the equations on a board for you.

Looks like a twenty mile difference if you travel to Lawton via Fort Worth rather than Dallas. And I guess the question Grandma J has is this.....after all is said and done, don't you think a 217 mile day trip to the Winn Casino is doable?

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all....

....and to all a good night!

and here's a little bit of Christmas Texas style.

Countdown to Christmas.....

Yesterday was caaa.raaazzzz.eeeee.

As is the custom, because we've done this exactly twelve one year in a row, my granddaughter and I, with JJ in tow, made our way to HEB to pick up the final ingredients for our traditional, signature, Christmas pile of goop Rice Krispy Treat Wreaths.

We needed everything but ribbon and marshmallows.....for real. And when all was said and done......


This was the damage done to Grandma J's social security check Roth IRA, or better known as my estate. and just in case you think I'm a prudent shopper the coupon savings is $1.48, not $148.


Of course, we bought some stuff for dinner, because we would still be working on our Christmas Wreaths well into the evening hours....and because my grandson knows I make the best babyback ribs evah!!



This is the assembly line.....waiting for the finishing touch.


This is the Director of Traditional, Signature Christmas Wreaths...sitting for a photo op putting the finishing touch on the project.

By "finishing touch"....I mean just that!



Here is an up-close look at what Middle Daughter will be passing out to her co-workers and the doctors she works with. She is such a suck-up! considerate, generous person.

Merry Christmas!

The Reason For The Season

or, these are a few of my favorite things.

Thirty five years ago, I friend gave me a beautiful gift that she spent numerous hours making. I have cherished these pieces and love to display them....and display them I do......year 'round.

The details are spectacular and the picture doesn't do them justice. My friend said she was going to make me add-on pieces every year for Christmas...but I said no. I love the Holy Family and wanted to keep the Nativity simple, and so it is to this day. I move it to my coffee table for Christmas, but it's so beautiful, I display it all year.

My middle daughter knew how much I loved my three piece Nativity, and decided to get me a beautiful Austrian Crystal one when they were stationed in Germany ten years ago.

It's just as beautiful and lovely, and I display it year 'round, and put it front and center with the ceramic one for Christmas.

My third Nativity is my pewter, stained glass plate that my mother, Rita gave me. It has over two hundred different colors but it doesn't photograph well....but it's another of my favorite things.

Do you have a special gift from years gone by that you display front and center every Christmas?

Disclaimer....While these are some of my favorite things, the ornaments on my tree are on even par with my nativities.