Day 7: Survived 50 for One Week

Well I survived my first week as a 50 year old woman! And what a week it has been! I've spent wonderful times with friends celebrating this milestone birthday and I feel as if the celebration just keeps goin' ...

Pictured here are gal pals Stacy Bell, me, and Lissa Solomon before we went out to celebrate! Don't we look fabulous & 50!

Most of my lovely lady gal pals are turning the big 5-0 either this year or in the next one or two so we are all facing the same issues of dealing with age, what we want out of the next 50 years for ourselves, our families, and who we want to spend our precious time with. No doubt this makes for some lively & truthful conversations.

I'm in a place where really I don't want to take bullshit anymore nor be in the company of people who are toxic. So this is my new mantra... I'm tired of being nice when you have offended me so I'm not going to pretend it's okay that you have disappointed me.

As I said in one of my Robynisms, I Expect A Lot Because I Give A Lot...

It's a new decade and I'm choosing my company much more wisely!

Day 309: 30th Birthday Party & Lakewood Campaigning

Today I headed out to Lakewood to walk precincts for gal pal and fabulous city council candidate Marisa Perez. This was on the heels of a fabulous 30th birthday party I attended last night for Melissa Solomon. Melissa is Lissa & Ken Solomon's daughter and those Solomon's really know how to host a party!

Pictured here is me and Ken (holding the slider) and gal pals Stacy Bell & Stacy Fischler.

They had a fabulous food truck parked in front of the house offering sliders and onion rings, so yummy. All the cocktails were "pink" and there was a fun photo booth ... all this despite the downpour of rain! But they pulled it off and a great time was had by all.

Today the sun was shining and it was crisp and cool, a perfect day to walk and talk to voters. Marisa is in a tough race up against the "establishment" which doesn't welcome fresh new players very often. Most of the incumbents have been in office for 20 or 30 years (no term limits, although voting is considered a term limit, and these guys have had few challengers & never got voted out of office).

She's working very hard and knows what she's talking about... I just hope the Lakewood voters recognize what she offers and cast their votes for her on March 8th.

Campaigning can be very rewarding, but also very frustrating. But today we walked, and talked to voters, and spread her message. It was all good!

Day 88: Games Aren't Just for Kids

I love playing card games and board games and I LOVE charades too! I have the fondest memories of playing Hearts and Gin Rummie with my Mom & family when I was younger. I remember Brian and I would spend hours staying up all night playing games with Mom and family & friends. We'd have marathon sessions! When the boys were younger we'd play lots of games, mostly board games ... the standard Monopoly, Yahtzee, Scattagories. Many of these games we still play today even though the boys are teenagers.

A few years ago we vacationed with the Ross family and they turned us on to Banana Grams. We were addicted. It was like a drug. We played the entire trip! That same year up at Bass Lake we got turned on to Rummicue and I've been an addict ever since!

Games are a wonderful way to connect people and family. It is interactive as opposed to sitting and watching television or a movie. When you play games you laugh with each other and feel much more connected than most activities you can share together.

Playing Charades is also one of the best ways to enjoy family time. While it always takes me prompting my family to play the game, once we get going the laughter does not seem to stop. Watching everyone make fools of themselves as they try to act out a book, movie or theatre production is great. It takes imagination and some creativity and that's the best way to spend time with your family. Even if they resist I highly recommend sitting with your children and playing a board game! They may roll their eyes and sigh with disbelief that they are having to play a "game" with their siblings and parents, but once you get goin' it will be a blast.

So tonight was "game night" for the big gals. My gal pal and neighbor Stacy Bell gathered an impromptu group of girls for some Rummikub. I tell you the game is addictive. We had a blast laughing & playing and even welcomed a new gamer Lissa Solomon. Who knew Solomon was so competitive, wow she was on fire! Anyway, if you are looking for ways to connect with your children or friends, pull out the deck of cards, or a board game, make some yummies and have a great time being together!