My Holiday Wish

Someday I will get a chance to see the

Rockettes in person!

Holiday sweaters

Well I tried to post a picture of one of the 10 ugliest holiday sweaters according to a story I read online. Why? I own and WEAR one of the ones "they" deem ugly.

Ha! It isn't ugly, it's seasonal, cheerful and downright fun to wear. (hint, there are holly decorations all over the sweater!)

Check back tomorrow when I have more time to work on moving the pictures from the story to the blog. Yes, GmG, I know I need a computer lesson.

If you have time today please stop at the Festival of Trees! Today is Senior Day. Free lunch for people 55+ or just for people that look older than they really are. The fashion show will be at 12:30 p.m. with yours truly as the commentator.

This afternoon from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. I will emcee the entertainment and announce the sponsors. Tomorrow my charming husband will come with me to the festival as I volunteer as the emcee again from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Get in the holiday spirit and support Hiawatha Homes at the same time.

My mind is blank

what to blog about this morning....

Black Friday

Sure, you are stuffed with turkey - but will you run run run to get the great deals at 4:00 a.m. on Black Friday? If so, will you see me shopping? Not a chance!

Yes, I enjoy shopping and boy oh boy I love a good bargain. But, fighting crowds, waiting in line and searching for a parking place are about as much fun as sitting next to a screaming baby on a 6 hour airplane ride.

However, if you do go shopping at the crack of dawn I hope you find treasures, cheerful clerks and get all your shopping done in one day.

Official Elk photo

Glee

Glee is a quirky new TV show based on the lives of students in a glee club.

Sounds goofy, doesn't it? When I saw the previews I thought so too.

My daughter raved about the show so one week I turned it on and I was hooked!

Scott from the Y burned a Glee CD for me which I listen to (at top volume) quite often. Thanks Scott.

True Confession: I even logged on the Glee website to read about the characters. I haven't gone so far as start a local chapter of the Glee fan club or memorize the actors real names but it is a fun, light-hearted and humorous way to spend an hour once a week.

Finally

Yep, sometimes I get too busy traveling and working to post. Or, I don't have anything interesting to say... yes, I know that doesn't usually stop me.

Congratulations to SDS for risking public humiliation at the Y pool by demonstrating his newly learned aerobic dance steps! I don't think he will appear on Dancing with the Stars anytime soon but did a fine job, Of course, he was bribed with sugar cookies from Bloedow's bakery in Winona.

Last weekend we participated in our 11th annual lefse making party at Lola's house. My lefse rolling skills leave a lot to be desired so I am one of the fryers. My husband is the official straw-sucker. He is the one who packs the made from scratch delicacy in storage bags then uses a straw to suck out the air from the bag.

Tomorrow's post: GLEE

BINGO

Last week I played at the Elks and won $76! The first game I won the entire jackpot of $56. I guess they weren't accustomed to people screaming BINGO BINGO BINGO and waving the winning sheet like a maniac because the bingo caller said "well folks, looks like we have a brand new player tonight, eh?" Then all the regulars snickered and whispered under their breath..The second game I won I had to split the jackpot.

Am I hooked now? You bet. Not only that but in a few weeks I can CALL bingo. I haven't called bingo in years and can't wait to start calling every few weeks.

My used to play bingo several times a week. She had her bingo friends, a special spot where she sat every week, her lucky bingo box and a set of lucky troll dolls. She made little tiny clothes (and earrings) for the dolls so they wouldn't be "bare naked" She also made her own dauber bags that coordinated with her outfit.

No BYOD - (bring your own daubers) necessary. At the Elks they allow you to use their daubers. It only costs $1.00 for a two game sheet and they call 15 games.

So, c'mon down to the Elks tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and join the fun! You could be the person screaming BINGO BINGO BINGO!and bringing home the jackpot.

Sick

Please check back in a few days...

Meaningful words

The following is something of a collection of thoughts I have had through the years. It is often hard to express to those I come across but if you are a veteran please accept this from me, if you know a veteran please pass this along to them.

Thanks to the men and women who are so brave
Some for freedom their life they gave.
Others return but they're not whole
What they've seen or done has hurt their soul.
With some their wounds are in plain view
But others have those never seen by me or you.
There are those that went but did not fight
They enlisted and served because it's right.
They cooked, they healed, they typed, they fought
And be very grateful we really ought.
The servicemen and servicewomen have suffered through it
In place of us who cannot or will not do it.
They come in times of peace and war
Willing to fight for things worth fighting for.
To each and all who choose to serve
We say Thank You which is less than you deserve.

Bruce Snyder

Each week my wonderful husband Bruce hosts Cool Beans - Coffee with the Councilman. Caribou North (across from Super Target) from
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.every Thursday morning. Each week he sends out a reminder note. This is the note he sent out today which is touching and meaningful. Stop by - he buys the coffee, you talk about city issues.

Veteran's Day

My Dad, the talented Victor Alois Karn, served faithfully in WW II. Like many soldiers he didn't talk much about the war. I knew he served in Hawaii, and that when he came home from his years in the service he wouldn't eat toast, oranges or rice. Our questions as to why he didn't eat those foods anymore were never answered.

My Dad was a Corporal in the Army which I always thought was the highest rank you could achieve. Even though I know the truth now, in my eyes he will always remain on the top of the list.

Wednesday is Veteran's Day, please take a minute and thank a veteran for their dedication to our country.

Rhythm

Remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine dances and everyone makes fun of her since she is not what most people would call graceful?

Some people have rhythm, some people don't. And yet, some stubborn and determined folks will LEARN how to overcome their rhythm challenged body and persevere! SDS, you can do this!

Years ago I was shy and quiet. ha ha ha you say, no, it's a true story. My mom decided to send me to dance lessons to get me out of my shell. For 7 years I took tap and ballet classes at the Miss Louise dance school in St. Louis Park. I learned all the steps, practiced faithfully and still cried all the way through both numbers at the yearly recital.

One time my younger brother Terry came along when my Mom took me to a lesson. Terry was outgoing, energetic and begged for dance lessons. My Dad threw a fit but my Mom said "let's try it" Terry was a natural star and in the first year had two solo numbers.

Terry went to on study dance with the children's theater in Mpls, the Royal Winnipeg ballet, danced on a cruise ship for a few years, married a lovely ballerina and is still performing and teaching dance and music at a college in the Midwest.

So today I encourage you to tap your toes, spin your loved one around the room and find the rhythm in your soul.

Milestone

Yes, hard to believe but this is posting number 100 of Chick Chat (originally called Chubby Chick Chat)

Lots of silly, random thoughts have been posted -- picking up M&M's in your bare feet, the thrill of collecting sock monkeys, holding adorable babies and sometimes just a goofy smiley central guy when my mind goes blank or I am merely lazy.

Thanks for checking in and hopefully chuckling every now and then.

Upcoming posts will include the thrill of playing BINGO, my brief stint in the slammer in 1987 and discovering the joys of eating chocolate covered bacon.

Have a great weekend!

Disgusting

Caution: Do not read this post while you are eating..

A top news story last night was about an election in another state where the winner was upstaged by a 7 year old boy. No, the boy wasn't his adorable son or grandchild and he wasn't giving the candidate a fist bump or high five.

The kid - who was old enough to know better - was picking his nose!

Then he examined the "contents" and disposed of it. No, he didn't use a tissue or wipe it on his sleeve. Gulp.

Ewww! Gross, disgusting! C'mon the kid should know better. Some 7 year olds are in college. Booger Boy's parents or legal guardians should be scolded, fined or forced to watch Gilligan's Island reruns for 7 straight hours as a punishment.

What? Is this the first time little Billy Booger did this? Ick Ick Ick.

My daughter may have misbehaved occasionally in public but I can assure you she ate real food and never ever did anything like that.

So, if you have children that have never ever been disgusting in public, I suggest you both go out for an ice cream cone today to reward them for being a good kid and yourself for being a good parent.

Bad Hair Day

Is having a bad hair day a legitimate reason to stay home?
No, I didn't think so either.

Who goes to the Y at 4:45 a.m.?

Hey SDS, thanks for checking the blog so early in the morning. Let's see YOU jump off the deep end of the pool this morning.

I posted this shortly after 5:00 a.m. today and sure enough -- at 6:01 a.m. Shaun Palmer jumped off the deep end (of the pool) and swam under water the entire 25 yards to the end of the pool. Way to go!


So, how many people do start exercising at 4:45 a.m.? Way more than you imagine. They come on purpose. I've only been at the Y that early once and was greeted as usual with a big smile by John the friendly front desk early morning person.

Do these crack of dawn exercise buffs go to bed at 8:00 p.m., take naps during the day, drink a lot of coffee or do they have incredible energy, eat right, live a good clean life and only need a few hours of sleep?

If talking burned calories I could eat all the cookies I want and never exercise...

Today's quote is by the ever popular anonymous:

"A smile is a light on your face to
let someone know you are at home."

p.s. Thanks to the young blogger who commented that their Mom is a facebook farm enthusiast. Maybe it's like Ebay. If I learned how it worked I would get hooked and never do a lick of work again.

Facebook

A few weeks ago I reluctantly became a facebook member. Suddenly I am as popular as a homecoming queen and people that wouldn't lend me a quarter to plug the meter now want to be my "friend". Why? So they can invite me to add a virtual animal to their virtual farm because they have a virtual life?

The people on my facebook friends list are ones that I would and have invited into our home, know my middle name or something about me that I wish they didn't.

I am a clueless face-booker. For a few weeks I kept writing on my own wall. ha ha ha. One of my brothers gently pointed that out to me without calling me an offensive childhood name. Thanks Mickey!

So while I don't have 732 facebook friends or 893 photos posted for the world to see at least I can check out facebook when I am wide-awake for no reason four hours before the alarm goes off.

Happy Monday!