Friday, May 10, 2019

Just Married...One Year...Games of Thrones Episode 4..and More



Slowly recovering from the wedding, and the weeks leading up to it.

And WHAT a wedding!

Not just a wedding...but stuff that fairytales are made of...with castles and "Milady" & "Milord" and sumptuous surrounding and rooms.

Flanked by both families and friends.
















And LOVE.


As a mother it is so wonderful when your children find their

"Happily Ever After"




in life.

Mine certainly have!


May 9th marked a milestone for John and I, too...


Our First Year Back Together
                                      (and it has been an amazing year)


Looking forward to
our May Getaway 
Soon!
                                      



Hopelessly hooked 
on what is
the last
of
G.O.T

Only 2 Episodes Left.

Last Sunday
opened with
Jorah as he 
entered

The Eternal Friendzone

As Dany placed a chaste kiss
on his forehead
atop 
the funeral 
pyre.

A spectacular visual
as everyone
said goodbye to
those lost in
The Great War

And a formation
of blazing pyres
and billowing smoke

(seriously...this might have been the beginning of global warming)

Later much celebration
and wine 

Gendry being named 
Gendry Baratheon
and rightful
Lord
of 
Storm's End

And Ayra's
huge
brush off 
when he asks for her 
hand in marriage.

A drinking game
between 
Jamie, Tyrion and Brianne of Tarth
that ends in revealing
that Bri is a VIRGIN

A major cockblock 
of Tormund 
by Jamie

And a rather sweet
awkward love scene
between Brianne
and Jamie.

(...didn't we know it all along...)

A softer side of The Hound
during a conversation with Sansa

And Dany and Jon
both soft and loving
then 
"but you have to keep your linage a secret"

which is kind of a
deal-breaker
for
Jon
                                                               

And him swearing Sansa and Ayra 
to silence

"Tell them, Bran"

And the hard truth about 
SECRETS

(...if more than you and one other person knows...yeah...it is no longer a secret.)


Or as Varys put it best

"It is INFORMATION"

Bran told Samwell...who told Jon...who told  Dany...and Sansa and Ayra...
who immediately told Tyrion
Who told Varys

Yeah...not a secret, anymore.

The Mother of Dragons
becoming
kind of a bitch

(...it is MY throne, damn it...)

and definitely
has all
the earmarks 
of a tyrant.

A treasonous
conversation between
                                                     Tyrion and Varys
where Varys
alludes to 
disposing of the queen
if it becomes
in
                                                         The Realms
    best interest.

Dany refusing
to listen to
her advisers
or much of anyone else

(...and also leaving an anachronism 
in the form of a Starbucks cup in plain sight...)




Never fear...HBO removed it from the scene digitally the very next day...
but there it was
Really

Bronn makes his appearance
with the 
Lannister Guys
and lets them in on the Cersi Deal

Ever the Sell-Sword
he agrees to let them live
and Tyrion promises him 
Highgarden

...is it just me or do any of you also want to see
Ser Bronn of the Fucking Blackwater
as the only one left alive
at the end. Taking 
a seat in
The Iron Throne
with a self-satisfied
mercenary
grin...



Okay, it might just be me.

Tormund heading back
to the North
with his Wildlings and Ghost

(...who didn't even get a pat goodbye from Jon...) 

Jamie 
also leaving
for Cersi
once again

(...and a heart-wrenching courtyard scene by Brianne...)

"Don't Leave Me"

Bastard.

Euron and the Rest of the Iron Fleet
waiting for
Dany and Co.

The Killing of Rhaegar
and
 seriously didn't you think

for just a moment

That our little guy
Tyrion
was going to be 

The First Dwarf
PINCUSHION

when he walked
up
AGAIN
to confront
his murderous
Sister
at the gates.

And wishing 
they would have
done a quick pan to
Euron's Face
when
Tyrion is trying to appeal
to Cersi's 
Better Nature
and is talking about
THE BABY.

"How the HELL does he know about The Baby???"

Face it..Euron is rather thick.

Ending with 
The
Mountain
executing 
Missandei

and her last words



In High Valerian
this is
translated
to
DRAGONFIRE


or simply put

"Light Them UP!!!"

and the look
on
Dany's face
as the screen
goes black

As she
completes
her transformation
from

The Mother of Dragons

(...er...dragon...)

to the Mad King

(er..Queen)

and Missandei's 
headless body
falls from the wall
at The Red Keep.

Yes...Waiting Anxiously for Episode 5

(...which Kit Harrington has declared the BEST episode of the last season...)




This Week's Book




A second novella by
Kersangal

(...and now I MUST read the first...)

The entire story
of a
Chef

told in the voice of

A Narrator.

I must admit seeing
Anthony Bourdain
as the young cook
finding his way
through the trials
of the kitchens

although the cook
in the story
remains 
forever nameless to us.

Very interesting
and 
engaging way
to tell the story.


Enjoyed the very last
of this season's
morels
yesterday

and put another bagful up
half-fried and frozen
to share
with
John.




The Yellows getting huge, but crumbly.

The Season now Complete.



Oh...and we are now with puppies!








Dad: Because waiting on them to be born is exhausting!



More Anon...














Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Life List #24: Take An Extended Zen Retreat



Admittedly, this Life List item was only recently added.

And it isn't being taken in Japan, Spain, California or even Cleveland...no...just here amidst the corn and soybean fields of Indiana.

After many weeks of almost non-stop people, obligations, events and stress...even though most of it was basically joyful and definitely self-inflicted...I hit the wall badly late Saturday.

Slept from 3 PM Saturday afternoon until nearly  10 AM Sunday morning. From Saturday until late Monday night I drank water to keep myself hydrated and ate saltines crackers to keep myself upright and functional. And that is it.

Food (even the idea of food) was disgusting.

No exercise/PT.

Not even coffee or soda or chocolate.

Kind of Numb.

System overload.

Yesterday, I literally cleared my schedule for the next 3 weeks.

Jill from the library Outreach delivered an armload of books for me.

I have blank canvas and paints.

Filled the pantry and refrigerator with fresh and healthy foods.

Planning to Meditate...Eat Well...Sleep Well...Quiet...Dig in the Soil and Plant Things...Create...The Internet...Read..Bask in the Sun...Bubble Baths...and not much else.

Reboot.

Center.

Re-Energize. 


 Sometimes it is necessary.


Namaste.







Friday, May 3, 2019

Just (ALMOST) Married...An Early Mother's Day...Game of Thrones (The Battle)...Politics and Barr & More

A night out at The Rusted Silo BBQ with the boys.

My Early Mother's Day.

It doesn't GET much better than this!



 So wonderful...it had been years since it was just us. Love love love the girls and the grands...but solo (all of us) is rare now.

Thanks, all of you!

Lennon drove straight through at the very beginning of the week (17 hours) and showed up at my door at 6:20 AM on the 1st.

I was impressed.

They are headed out this afternoon for Chris' bachelor party with some of Chris' friends...then we are all off to The Castle.

All of the moving parts...tuxes...rings...dresses...marriage license...officiator...cake...announcements...and about a million other things...together.

By this time tomorrow my youngest will be married!

Not losing a son...but gaining another lovely DIL.

Still kind of WOW after last Sunday's G.O.T Episode 3.

Great battle!

We've now lost

The Night King and all his Undead Followers. 
with a flying leap and sleigh of hand by Ayra Stark.

Theon
Who went out bravely charging The Night King.


Edd

Who died in the melee...then came back as a White Walker...then died again when the Night King was dispatched.


Lady Mormont
The tiniest taking on the biggest...and dying but taking him with her.

Jorah
Who died doing what he would have wanted. Protecting Dany.

The Red Witch
Who wandered out after the battle...her purpose fulfilled and taking off the choker of youth...to turn back into the crone...then to dust.

 A lot of the Unsullied
Only about half survived...including
Greyworm
 

All of the Dothrake
 Perhaps the best visual in the battle with all the blazing swords rushing into the darkness and one by one the lights going out.

and still have many main characters left!

Kudos to Ayra for saving the day and dispatching the Night King.

And the Best Death has to go to Lady Mormont who might have died fighting. a giant, but she brought him down with her...

Now we wait.

Sunday is Coming.

The best political sign I have seen was posted to James' FB Wall this week

and after the Barr Hearing I have to admit I nodded my head silently.

This may be the BEST answer.

AG Bill Barr...and guy most likely to play Droopy Dawg if they ever do a live action of the cartoon...


came before the Congressional Hearing and was summarily handed his ass. So much that

The next day he REFUSED to show up for the subpoena. 

(...you can Do that???????)

Anyway...they are looking at options...including his removal...jail...and have already called for his resignation.

So, there's that.

More as it happens...

See everyone after the Wedding!













Saturday, April 27, 2019

Three Birthdays and a Bridal Shower...59 is FINE...Sofi...and Other Observations

My BIRTHDAY must be over.

The Cake is gone.

Consolidated my 59th with Aiden's Upcoming 5th and Brenden's 9th and it was a mass of birthday candles, a flurry of icing (also pizza and pop), and

"Happy Birthday to US!"

Sung off-key and with flourish.








 

Candies and Candles, Kitchen Stuff and Birthday Morels, Bath Stuff, Ribbons and Lilacs.

But the very best was just FAMILY!










Even if Emma did learn not to stand too close to Dad with a piece of heavily frosted Birthday cake.

"It's up my NOSE!!!!"

And so happy that Kaylee was able to come!!!!

59 is shaping up to be a great last year of the fifties...and I am so blessed.

Was shocked when I was looking back at one of the earliest photos I took of Sofi

Around 6 weeks old.

And now...at not quite a YEAR.





She is coming along with her harness too...

From

"Uh...you're kidding, right?"

to Proud Guard Cat.

 All she needs is a tiny black beret.

Today, I joined Tina and Family for her Bridal Shower.







Hard to believe in less than a week they will be married!!!!





The kids table.









Complete with Linguini and Spaghetti and a choice of Alfredo, Pesto or Marinara (Pasta Bar), Crusty Italian Loaf and Tossed Green Salad.

Games and Prizes.

They are honeymooning at Disney...and since they basically have everything at home...wedding/bridal gifts were contributions to the honeymoon.

Next week they will be Mr. & Mrs.

 Not losing a son- but gaining another wonderful Daughter!

So happy, as Our Middle (Lennon) will be here on the 1st for the week.

The best part is that on the 2nd we are having a brunch...and for the first time in a long time I will be out solo with my three boys!

As any Mom can tell you...after they grow up and have lives, jobs, wives and children of their own...these solo moments are few and far between. 

I am soooooooooooooo looking forward to it!

Last week's Game of Thrones was beyond cruel.  They have brought everyone back together.

And they decided to devote the whole episode last Sunday to "the feels".

Bran and Jamie making peace. 



Ser Jamie and Brianne and the whole warm and fuzzy...let's sit around the fireplace, get warm, tell tales, drink wine and sing with Podrick, Tormund, Davos, and Tyrion. 

And I LOVED when Jamie Lannister knighted Brianne of Tarth.



Greyworm and his lady love reunited and speaking of future plans to settle in Narth. 



They even brought back together Beric and The Hound.

 Made peace with Sansa and Theon.



Gave a brief sisterly human moment between Dany and Sansa.

Brought Gentry and Ayra together in a tastefully done lovemaking scene.



Brought the last 3 of the brotherhood back to fight the Night King.

Brought Lady Mormont together with Jorah for a memorable confrontation.

Samwell Tarly gives Jorah his father's sword for the upcoming battle then is below in the crypts sleeping with Gilly and Little Sam.

Podrick's haunting rendition of Jenny of Oldstones as the camera pans.

Sansa and Theon sit at a table in the courtyard together.

Gave Jon just enough time to reveal to Dany that his true linage is Targaryen.

(...she appeared less than pleased...)

Yes...they gave us a moment to really CARE about everyone...

Before they start getting killed off.

And you know they are going to...

Heartless BASTARDS.

This Week's Book

A re-read for me.

Naturalist Essays by Annie Dillard.

Beautiful. Quiet. Comforting.

An excellent CENTER in the midst of a hectic week.

And Trump...what is left to say...really?

He threatens to sue if his taxes are revealed.

He threatens to sue if his college transcripts are released.

He threatens to sue over the Mueller Report.

It is almost like he has something to hide, or something...lol!


More anon...