I propose Fogo de Chao for men and Choco de Chow for Women

So when you are an empty nester, you've got the time and extra funds to eat out at expensive places sometimes. Recently we dined at Fogo de Chao. This is a chain of Brazilian steak houses where Gaucho servers visit your table with meat on large skewers offering slices of everything from sirloin and ribeyes to Parmesan pork and chicken. The salad bar is huge, but doesn't feature many fresh vegetables. Instead, gorgeously displayed are heavy salads, cheeses, spreads, crackers and a small array of veggies. The side dishes like mashed potatoes and rolls are very secondary to the juicy and flavorful meats brought to your table.

Who can eat that much meat??! I couldn't eat another bite of meat and my husband kept on going. He was in heaven and making lots of yummy noises. While my husband thoroughly enjoyed it, I really didn't. I just can't eat that much meat.

I have a counter idea for women instead.  How about Choco de Chow? Picture this! A salad bar with large fancy china plates with lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, crackers and cheese. To compliment, I large array of Skinny Girl cocktails and wines. Then the main course - men in tuxedos coming by with chocolate. "Would you care for milk chocolate with toffee?  Here is dark chocolate with cherries.  Would Madame care for white chocolate infused with Oreos?  Milk chocolate with carmel marbling?"  Then the encore - a chocolate fountain brought to your table with delectable dippables. 

This idea is free for the taking. I have no desire to start a restaurant. However, if this is next door to Fogo de Chao, I know where I'll be sitting the next time hubby wants to dine there.

I think a lot of us have less patience for pettiness, unkindness, intolerance, spiteful gossip and insincereity, as we age

 I saw this on facebook today and copied it here. A couple years ago I also lost the will to please those who do not like me. It was liberating and felt right. Since then I have chosen to cut loose those who don't appreciate me or see me the way I see myself.  I am not sure I agree with the harshness of all of these statements. I don't understand the meaning of the last sentence. But I think a lot of us have less patience for pettiness, unkindness, intolerance, spiteful gossip and insincerity, as we age. While I don't agree with all the statements of this manifesto, I am sharing this with you to provoke thought and discussion. 
 

The World Needs More Pine Cone Turkeys.

Tonight I gathered up the Halloween decorations and put them away, while at the same time I placed pilgrims and home-made pine cone turkeys around my kitchen and living room.  Now that I have a grandson, I am inspired, and dare I say, a bit excited to decorate for all of the holidays now.

But, I have to get back to the home-made pine cone turkeys. What a sweet memory they bring. My aunt is only four years older than me, so my cousins are really young - as in a whole generation apart from me. My cousin who was about 3 or 4 at the time, visited for Thanksgiving with his family and brought with him a paper grocery bag full of pine cone turkeys he made. He eagerly yet somewhat shyly toured the room, offering his precious craft to each of us. "I made this turkey for you", he said in his sweet little boy voice.

I have four of them.  I was so touched and enamored by his sweet heart and little voice, that I wanted as many as I could get. I just loved to see him hand them over one-by-one with his little boy hands with sweet pride and love in his eyes. 

I love those turkeys. I love the memory of receiving them. And, I love the spirit of the season this memory inspires. Many times, the simplest thing that didn't cost money, other than a few sheets of colored construction paper, can be one of the most treasured items we own.

Grandmas and moms - pay this forward if you can.  The world needs more pine cone turkeys.

If your marriage lasts 25 years, I believe you deserve another "bridal" shower!

I am on my eighth set of oven mitts, my bathroom scale didn't survive the impact after being thrown against the bathroom wall, nice sheets are EXPENSIVE...these are reasons I believe by the time you are married for 25 years, you deserve another bridal shower.

Earlier this week, a bath towel disintegrated while I was using it. All that was left was loosely clustered towel molecules, hanging on to each other for dear life.  Towels? When was the last time I bought towels? I wasn't even familiar with towel name brands. Is Cannon even still around?

Also, I could use a new set of flatware. My dessert forks out-number the dinner forks, and I don't know how that happened. Likewise, I am always pulling butter knives out of the dishwasher to wash by hand. What is happening to my eating utensils?  How the heck could I be missing so many? I swear they never leave the kitchen.

Have you been to a Bed, Bath and Beyond lately? They sell gadgets and utensils I've never seen before. I don't have any of these. I believe now that I've seen them, I need them. However, I didn't find an impact-proof bathroom scale.  Someone is missing an opportunity there.

I went tonight and bought the towels I needed. They now have towels that claim they dry faster, saving energy. I went for it. They are in the washer now. I plan on timing them while they are in the dryer.

So yeah. After being married for 25 years, we deserve another bridal shower.  Stuff wears out and new cool stuff is invented that we NEED. And afterall, being married for 25 years is really something to celebrate these days, and we should get gifts!

Join me in this revolution!  

Coloring my hair is pure drudgery

Gray hair comes along with the territory for folks in the Empty Nest stage of their life. I am fighting it every step of the way too. Admittedly, I am not an early adopter. I have been using Clairol Nice n Easy for many years.  But recently the foam in hair colors intrigued me.  And so I tried L'oreal's foam-in formula.  I really like it.  Coloring my hair is drudgery, but the foam-in method is less messy, a bit more fun/interesting because of the foam and maybe a bit faster.  I've used it three times now, and I am going to stick with it until something better comes along.

So, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Now that I've covered my gray roots, What's Next?

Travelling is a snap for Empty Nesters

Boy, travelling sure is easy when the only schedule you need to consider is your husband's.  It is so easy to pack and go when you are empty-nesters.  Of course it isn't nearly as expensive either.  So off we go.  One of our favorite get aways is the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana.  Yes, very strange name, but what a wonderful weekend getaway.  It is historic because of the natural springs that were believed to have healing qualities near the turn of the century.  Two resorts were built around those springs.  Now they have been renovated and are both opulent yet welcoming and friendly (not the least bit snooty).

So far this year we've visited twice.  So much to do - golf, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, on-site bowling, walking, biking, planned activities, an historic tour, carriage rides and a casino.  Here's a link so you can check it out.  http://www.frenchlick.com/

We've been to Chicago over Labor Day weekend for a Cubs baseball game, iconic deep dish pizza, and a show at Second City.  And tonight, we just returned from Michigan City to visit friends, see Lake Michigan, gawk at the lovely lakefront homes and shop at the Lighthouse Outlet Mall.

Next year, we are planning a couple of trips.  One is already booked with my mom, sisters, daughter and niece, the Six Chicks.  We are heading to a Florida beach for a few days.  Then, in recognition of our 30th Anniversary my husband and I are talking about a trip to New York City for baseball, Broadway, deli lunches and dinners with friends. 

We'll probably plan more trips in the meantime.  To that, I'd say...What' next!

Extremely proud and a little melancholy. There should be a name for that.

I wish there was a name for that feeling. You know, that feeling you don't want to admit to or talk about. It is the feeling deep in your gut - kinda ouchy but kinda tickley too. It is when you see your daughter with her baby. And, she is so  loving, patient, tender and attentive, with beyond-the-best-expectations mommy skills.  And you are so proud!  So very proud you could burst. Yet, at that same moment you realize just as that baby needs her so much, your daughter doesn't need you now in the same way. She is so capable and responsible. And of course you are proud beyond measure. But still, there is that other melancholy feeling of not ever being needed as a mommy of a little girl - ever again. 

Yeah, there should be a name for that.