Hacker's Xmas Soiree

Marilyn and Jay hosts an annual open house

which is perhaps one of the nicest events.

You are greeted by polite grandsons

who take your wraps and coats and

who orient you to the goodie table

featured below.

All these are made by Marilyn and

rumor has it she starts in November.

At the end of the evening you are

encouraged to take some of these home.

There is also another food table downstairs

filled with canapes such as shrimp and

bacon wrapped water chestnuts just to name a few of my favorites.

These are also made by our

hostess.

Marilyn in action with Tanya and Sarah.

Friends gather and eat and some even drink.

Please enjoy some of my photos of guests I

managed to capture in their holiday attire.

Their talented grandson plays carols after he has finished with his other duties.

The juggling Bartendress.

Nettie and Donna

Mike and Pat

Sarah, Tanya, Linda and Kate

Nettie and Nancy

Tom and Kate
Special thanks go to Jay and Marilyn for this wonderful party!
It is truly one of the nicest that I am lucky to attend!
Marilyn you do a wonderful job!

Christmas Euchre Party!

This was the last Euchre Party for 2009 which coincided with

Christmas. Hostess was Penny.

She made her outfit for the occasion.

Penny's bar is yellow and very extensive.

She collects unique wine and martini glasses.Appetizers were served before our main

course of Chicken and Noodles ala Pennay.

Betsy made a great pomegrante pear salad.

Kathy has perfected the cheesecake and

Don could hardly wait to have his share. Penny pays attention to every detail.

We had Electric Reindeer wines.

Note the eyes, nose and antlers.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.The entire group poses.

Diane and Rob you are in our hearts.The party finally over.

Ladies are ready for the sleepover.

Significant Guy and His Ladies! December 17,2009

What is cooking at this event?

Doug does it all we

just watch and eat.

We had fruit, cheese and nuts.

This was followed by endive

stuffed with provence herbed cheese

topped with baby alfalfa sprouts.

We then had a seared sea scallop

course with sesame ginger dipping sauce.

This is the beef tenderloin with blue cheese

and arugula topped with roasted red peppers.

This also had a base of dijon-horseradish

and apricot jam sauce.

This is an annual gathering

hosted by Doug to honor his

significant ladies. We used to

go out to lunch but we have

graduated beyond that now.

The lucky ladies are Julie, madeleine and Nettie.

I got in on Julie and Madeleine's coat tails
so don't ask for an application.
We watched the colts game as it was a Thursday

night game.

Peyton did it again.

Go Colts 14-0!

Our good luck mascot.

Champagne is the order of the evening!

It was a school night.

No we did not drink

the Glenlivet that was

Doug's gift from us.

Now how are we going to keep the pounds off?

Monday Night Tennis Gathering!

Karen poses in front of Ann's

beautiful fireplace on Dec. 14th

Annual Monday night tennis ladies gathering.

They have been playing tennis together

for 20 years or so. I at first

thought the group was too chatty.

I dropped out for a few years.

However I now have the right

perspective on life.

They were so supportive when one

of the friends Nikki suffered from

her brain tumor and died. I was

inspired and reminded of what is

more important. So I rejoined. They celebrate birthdays

and especially decades.

Cindy enjoying her 60th!

The entire group with a couple missingThey have a wacky gift exchange.

A gift can be stolen twice.

I tried to tout up my

crystal potpourri dish

hoping to get the bottle

of St Ema reserve wine .

To no avail.

However whatever you

come away with you are

still a winner being a member

of this loyal group.
May they play together many more years

First Holiday Gathering!

Flo has always been my idol for a lady

who ages very gracefully while

still maintaining her independence

she has opted for a little different

life at this time.

Flo poses at the new apartment in the

independent living at Marquette Manor.

She has opted for rides to the symphony,

organized bridge games, discussion groups,

book clubs, dance lessons at the manor.

Meals are elegant in the restaurant.

For her gathering they sent up sandwiches

shrimp, veggies and cookies just like that.

She still plays tennis and drives

and I think it is a great life if

you can afford it. Good luck Flo.

Not a creature was stirring and other random thoughts!

I have decorated my christmas tree and sat for a while thinking
about the season. Since I am now back to living by myself as
Scott has moved on, I find that the house is so very quiet.
There truly is not a mouse stirring.
Sometimes it is good to just relax, read and listen to music.
I am re-reading "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan and trying to
introduce new musicians into my life. I now have Taylor Swift,
Kelly Clarkson, Sugarland, Allison Iraheta, and Leona Lewis.
Some of these ladies sound alike but I think I like that Sugarland
group a lot even though they are sort of "country".

Have you ever wondered why and how we manage with so many
remote controls. This is just to operate one unit and does not even
include my stereo system. It is easy to see how some people just
give all control up. I actually know people who depend on husbands
to figure this stuff out. I admit that after several drinks, I
sometimes forget how to do some functions. Go figure.


I know you think the people above are characters from the

Golden Girls. The grey haired lady is Dorothy aka Bea Arthur

or kathy Hughes. The middle person looks like Maude's husband

Arthur but it is actually Tom court who grew up in the

Hughes' neighborhood.

The lady to the right is Blanche devereaux aka Rue McClanahan

or Elaine Court. This was taken at the court's home a couple

of days after thanksgiving. It was fun seeing that Court family.

"The Blindside"

Michael Oher with the Tuohy's his legal guardians.

This is a feel good movie. You leave

the theatre and everyone is smiling.

It is based on a true story of Baltimore Ravens pro

player Michael Oher. He was a homeless 17 year old going to

a prep school that he did not fit into.

He was given that opportunity because of his athletic ability.

Sandra Bullock plays the role of the feisty southerner

Leigh Ann Tuohy, who took him in and treated him

like her own child and he responded positively.

He did not carry any baggage from his sad childhood and being

abandoned by his drug addicted mother. He just pretty much

closed his eyes and moved forward as he just improved

himself both in his academic and football career. He became part of

the family and they learned from him as well.

Sandra Bullock doesn't even seem to be acting.

I have always said she is a natural and she is looking very

good in her tight sexy threads. I say Oscar nomination could be possible.

Quinton Aaron who plays Michael Oher is shown here

with Jae Head who plays SJ Tuohy, the little brother who emulates

Tom Crew's , Jerry Maguire character negotiating with the

College coaches on Michael's behalf.

This is the real Michael Oher who took a football scholarship at "Ole Miss", but was offered scholarships to almost every college in the country. I think people like the Tuohy's are just good people and it there is something uplifting to see people like them doing things for other human beings. There are some good scenes of Bullock lunching with the other society women who question what she is doing. I say it is worth going out to the movies to see this one.