single parenthood

Life is much better these last three days from what it was on Sunday.

In MN, the sun has been shining and the temperatures really delightful. People are walking around in there short sleeves and capris. One would thing we were Florida. Ok, the temperatures are only in the 50s.

Saturday night, Gill is coming over for dinner. It will be the first time that I actually cook for him. This is the menu, just wondering what you guys think....

Starting out with shrimp cocktails for an appetizer moving on to the main course:

Main course:

Filet Mignon stuffed with blue cheese
Asparagus with a cream sauce
Brown rice and broccoli

For desert:

A wonderful cake with three different types of berries.

Any other ideas????? Do I need a salad?

Kiran informed me last night that she no longer wants to be a heart surgeon but a science girl instead. The kid loves doing experiments and some day is going to blow up the house the way she mixes things.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Mary

This is Polar Bear, Brown Bear, and Grizzly Bear. Polar Bear is my niece Helayna, Brown Bear is Kiran, and Grizzly Bear is my brother Mike. All three like to play their bear game. It is really funny to watch.......

Kiran loves Mike and Mike loves Kiran. It makes my heart smile when I see the two of them interact together. Tonight, Kiran came home with a new fishing lure that her uncle gave her. They love to look at lures together. Go figure, my girl from India, a little fisher girl.

Mary

No photo today.....

You know the feeling when your life in on cruise control with the same thing happening every weeknight and then all of a sudden part of it is gone? I always feel so lost this weekend every year. Basketball is finished and so is my Tuesday and Friday night entertainment. I love b-ball season. It keeps me going throughout the winter. Last night the highschool season came to an end. My brother's team took third place in the state tournament which was a disappointment because they really had a chance to win. Gill's team took second and that was very exciting because they weren't even suppose to be there.

Today I am feeling lost at sorts. Worried my relationship with Gill is going to change without that basketball connection for a 8 months. No more talking strategy or about his players or my brother's team and strategy. Hopefully our love for baseball will take that place.

I hate this empty feeling and my life is so full......

Have a great day all!

Sorry for being such a downer on a beautiful spring day in MN.

Mary

It is March Madness in these parts. Both Gill's and my brother's teams have made it to the MN State Tournament beginning on Wednesday. I am so thankful tonight that they will not meet each other seeing they are in different classes and I would have a difficult deciding who should win and then if I stayed neutral they both would be wondering why......

Gill's team played their best game this season last night. I was so excited for him. It will be the first time in 56 years that the school he coaches for goes to state. Hopefully then can win a few more games. Last night we had a wonderful time celebrating, just the two of us.

On Thursday evening, my brother's team won their game. They will be going to state for the first time in 5 years. The kids are excited and someone even brought in sparkling cider for them to pour over each other when they won. Hopefully they will win three more games and be the champions.

I have to say, as a basketball lover, I am loving every minute of this. Gill cannot believe that I care enough to come to his games. He loves the fact he can talk some strategy and I actually understand it. It was so much fun to see him so excited last night. Hopefully next Saturday night I will be celebrating two state victories.......

Have a wonderful week everyone, hopefully mine is going to be busy watching b-ball......

Mary

I decided to participate in recipe Saturday. Hope you all enjoy. It is one of my favorites.......

1 qt. rum baking powder
1c. butter 1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. sugar Lemon juice
2 large eggs Brown Sugar
2 c. dried fruit Nuts

Before you start, sample the rum for quality. Good, isn't it? Now select a large mixing bowl. Check the rum again. It must be just right. Be sure rum is of high quality. Pour 1 cup rum into a glass and drink it as fast as you can.
With an electric mix, beat 1 cup butter in a large, fluffy bowl. Add 1 seaspoon of tugar and beat again. Meanwhilee make sure the rum is of the highest quality. Try another cup. Add orge laggs, 2 cups of fried druit and beat unilt high. If the fried druie gets stuck in the beaters, just pry it loose with a screwdriver. Sample the rum again for toncisticity.
Nest, sift 3 cups of baking poweder, a pinch of rum, a seaspoon of tods, and a cup of pepper or salt (it really doesn't matter).
Sample the rum again. Sift 2 pints of lemon juice. Fold in schopped butter and strained nuts. Add 1 bablespoon of brown sugar or whatever you find. Mix well.
Grease oven and turn cake pan to 350 gredees and bake poothtick comes out clean.

This picture of the family was taken back in the summer of 1986. We were celebrating the 50 wedding anniversary of my mom's parents, Frank and Vida.

The first person from left to right is my "baby brother". He is 2 1/1 years younger than me and was a total mommies boy. Today he is married to a lawyer and the very proud father and Jack and Grace. He works for a mortgage in Minneapolis. He has pulled the most away from the family since my mom's death in 1993. He can weeks without talking to my dad. It truly is sad because his family lives 5 miles from me and see his kids maybe once a month.

Next is me, the only girl in the family.

My mom and dad follow. Next to my dad is the oldest sibling in the family. He has always been very intelligent and was mulitpling and dividing at the age of three. Today he is still a wiz at math!! He is the proud father of three adorable children and his wife does daycare in their home. He works for an agency in Northern MN that helps build business up on the Iron Range.

Next to him is my brother Mike. The most emotional of the brothers. He has a difficult time attending funerals, talking about people being sick, and visiting them in hospitals. He just becomes an emotional wreck. His wife, Denise, is the closest person to the a sister I have. We have so much in common and she has always been there for me. They have the three children, two girls and boy. I am closest to these three and could be considered their second mother. He is the basketball coach and Dean of Students at an all boys catholic school in the Minneapolis area.

The famliy, all born of the same parents but so different in attitude and personality. The family dynamics are just so interesting.

Happy Sunday all.

Mary

These are the children that make me so angry, laugh, cry and proud. I hang out with them 5 days a week from 8 to 2:15.

This class is a little more diverse then Kiran's don't you think.

Mary

Puck, you may have had some hard times in the last 3 years but all of us in Minnesota and those who have followed the Twins will never forget the memories you have provided to us.

Who can forget that game 6 when you took a home run away only to come up in the next inning and hit it out of the park. To hear Jack Buck say "SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT." It elated the entire state. The time you went 6 for 6 against Milwaukee or just when you would smile out there on the ball field but you always remember that it was just a game and life was short. You lived yours to the fullest.


We're gonna win Twins,
We're gonna score,
We're gonna win Twins,
Watch that baseball sore.

Knock out a home run,
Join the hit parade,
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today.........

Thanks for the memories Kirby......

The entire state of MN is praying for your family and two children.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

My days in Eleventh grade as a basketball cheerleader. That year the team's best five players were suspended for almost the entire season for drinking. We lost almost all of the games. It still was fun and dream I always had, to be a cheerleader. Today, I am helping Kiran understand it might be more fun to play then to cheer. When she saw the photo she said I looked weird. The comment came from the glasses and hair style. So early 80s.....

Today, I watch and cheer from the sidelines. It has been an interesting basketball season seeing I have been watching and following two high school teams. It is tournament time and hopefully both teams I am watching will make it to state.

Mary

Well, it is the weekend. Kiran is sleeping over at friends, her daughter is adopted from the same orphanage, just one year before. They are great friends and when I talked with K this evening she was all giggling and stuff. My girl is old enough for sleepovers and enjoying it. It makes me so happy but yet so sad.

This morning, Leo passed away. It is so sad but yet, I know he is happy. I saw my friend for a few minutes today and will spend more time with her and the family tomorrow. I was just so sad all day today. So many memories came to the surface.

Tonight, I went to Gill's game. They lost the conference championship in overtime. We went out for pizza after. I am telling you guys, this is so different from anything I have ever experienced. He just makes me so happy and every place in my heart is full.

Have a great Saturday and we will see you on Photo Sunday.... That is if I can the photo I want to post.....

Love you all for the kind words and support that you always give.

Mary

Today they have been up and down. Last night, Gill and I had a wonderful talk and we have, it seems, made it through our first difficult hurdle. The entire issue was due to alcohol on my part and I will forever be happy that he isn't holding it against me. I fall in love more with him everytime I see and talk to him. The entire thing, for a person who has been so in control of her life, is very scary. Not to mention getting two children involved with the relationship. I really think I am ready.....

This evening, I found out one of dearest friends, maybe losing her father sooner then we thought. It brings back so many memories of the time my mom was sick and then passed away so suddenly on us. Looking back 13 years ago, I am happy that it happened the way it did. She didn't suffer for a prolonged time and lived a wonderful quality of life until the end. She would not have been happy with less. It just breaks my heart to see someone I love go through that pain. Parents are such a special part of our lives.

Please pray Leo and his family. They truly are the most wonderful family and people!!!! In Gill's words, "They are good PEOPLE!"
Mary