Reflections

The day started off in the usual manor.  The Keeper hit the snooze button approximately three times or so before begrudgingly getting out of bed while the pup and I lay snuggled up clinging to the last moments of our sweet slumber.  With my eyes still shut the Keeper turned and laid a wet one on me while crooning,  “Happy Birthday Sweetheart!”. 

Still half asleep I slowly realized that he was right, the big day was here.  I looked up and responded, “Thanks hun.” then quickly closed my eyes and pouted. 

I’ve never considered myself to be one of those people who really cared about “getting older”.   In hindsight, I suppose that’s because I’m really still so very young.   

When hearing friends or family complain about age or joking about so and so being  over the proverbial hill I would laugh even mock boasting that “age is merely a number”.

When did birthdays go from being one of the most highly anticipated exciting days of the year to a consequence filled with anxiety and apprehension? 

For me I believe this moment occurred a few weeks before my 30^th birthday.  Thirty was a pivotal age in my life. 

I celebrated this life anniversary on the beautiful island of Kauai in Hawaii. 

Oh Kauai how I miss you! 

From the breathtaking peaks and valleys in the Grand Canyon to the Spanish Steps in Rome I’ve been very blessed to experience and see quite a bit of natural beauty.  That said, it wasn’t until I stepped out onto the lava rocks in the estuary of the beach in Kauai when sheer Nature brought me to tears.  The beauty is utterly majestic.    



My feet on the rocks in Kauai. 



If you’ve never been to the South Pacific live and in person 

-GO.  It’s unreal.

It was on these rocks that I began to reflect about my life.  Who was I ?  Where had I been, and where was I going?    

You see, I’d set some unattainable life goals for myself. 

Pardon the pun, but I am literally laughing out loud as I type this. 

(Wait until you read this, I don’t know WHAT I was thinking!)

1- I wanted to be married by 25  (fail)

2- First child by 30  (fail)

3 – Be pregnant with my 2^nd child by 32 -> then shortly thereafter hang up my hat and retire to be a Mommy.  (fail)

As a twenty something I hadn’t realized that all of the above was completely out of my control!  As many of us have learned, life has a way of planning itself.  I hadn’t “failed” at all, this just wasn’t to be my path. 

Alone with my thoughts, it was on this day of deliberation on the rocks that I realized just how much I was really and truly in love with the Keeper.  (You see we’d only been dating for a few months at this point and I frankly wasn’t really giving our relationship my all.)  

Despite the 5 hour time change, I was overcome by the combination of elements that I was experiencing.  Considering the emotion of this significant birthday, the majestic view, and the smell of the ocean air, I felt the urgent need to call the Keeper and tell him what was on my mind.  We talked and talked for hours about everything and nothing all at once.  (You know those conversations that you have at the beginning of a relationship-the ones that cement you as a couple.) 

Instead of holding on to the dread of turning thirty I began to embrace it.  I decided that an executive decision was in order. 

Going forward, my 20’s would be considered the decade that I “got my $h!t together” and my 30’s would be considered the decade of enjoying “the $h!t I’d gotten together”! 

-With the snap of a finger that was it, I’d turned it around.  No more birthday blues, sunny skies from here on in!   I was on the path to enjoying life or so I thought.   

30-31 came and went as the Keeper and I courted and got to know each other. 

31-32 was consumed planning for the “Big Day”. 

32-33 had some good times but was a much tougher year than anticipated.
Suffering the loss of a family member has altered both the Keeper and our family’s lives forever.  Though this loss will always remain in our daily thoughts, in our minds and in our hearts, today I choose to reflect on some happier things that have taken place this year. 

Love - The Keeper and I said “I Do” and were wed to be husband and wife.

Life – Our new nephew was born and baptized. 

Health - We learned that the Keepers “pain in is a$$” was a benign tumor – Thank God. 

Knowledge – I took part in my first “Night of Tomatoes” with the Keepers family- learning how to jar fresh hot tomatoes like they do in the Old Country. (738 jars, when it comes to sauce, these Italians are NO joke!)

Sports –I attended my very first Bengal game vs. the Ravens @ Baltimore.  (and we won!)  

Friends – Both the Keeper and I got “corny” taking a highly anticipated trip to Iowa visiting his long time BFF. – Good times and lots of corn!   

Family – The Pup joined our fam bringing us more love, hope and mess than anticipated!

Surrounded by love, family and friends I am thankful for what happiness we were able to squeeze out of this year. 

Armed with some life lessons and hope I look forward to the journey that 33 will take me on. 

~The Keepers Wife. 

Fallin’ (in 15 Minutes or Less)

I’ve been waiting with bated breath since June 21^st!  (Sorry Junebung, I’m not a Summer girl!  It doesn’t cooperate with my hair.)  Autumn is my signature Season. 

We are 3 days into Fall, however,  if you take the sweltering 87 degrees happening outside today into consideration ya wouldn’t know it! 

I have to admit, I’m starting to feel cheated!  Where’s the cool brisk wind forcing me to put on a cozy fleece?  Where’s the fresh Fall scent in the air?  You know the smell that I mean.  (Similar to when you can smell the rain in the air before it’s happened.) The one that makes you want to pull into the nearest coffee shop for a warm cup of Pumpkin Spice or Hot Apple Cider!  Yum. 

From the warm amber tones of foliage that come along with the autumnal season to the festive decorations, for me, when the Fall Equinox rolls around life is just, well…..better. 

Escaping the office an hour early yesterday I jumped into my archaic Mitsubishi Gallant for a joy-ride.  It had been a long week!

Over a decade old with only 60k miles on the car -I still love it.

(Low mileage = a perk of being a roadie for so long.  I never drove it!) 

As I sank into the plush leather seats of the silver bullet, I cranked up the stereo, rolled down the windows and decided to take a ride through my old neighborhood. 

As I hit the stop light leading me toward my old apartment building,

appropriately located on

Hope Street, 

I felt a smile come over my face. 

I just plain loved, living, on

Hope Street.

(960 Hope St. Apartment 2C)



Hope Street, where I’d started over and healed after a horrific break up in my mid-20’s. Where I learned how to hang pictures, change out-of-reach light bulbs and pay bills on my own.  Where I laughed….cried…and laughed some more.  Where I came into my own and got to know myself; and most importantly where The Keeper got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife. 

(Setting the scene - I didn’t stop to take a pic, but you get the point.) 

Staring ahead at the beautiful foliage, it was at this moment I’d made up my mind.  This is where I want to live.  (The Keeper and I are in the market for a home and have been up in the air as to where exactly we want to live.) 

Ok, back on track….the smile. 

So there I am sitting in the Mitsu, James Taylor on the radio, windows open, Big Smile on my face got it? 

I think to myself, something’s missing. Why don’t I have the sunroof open?  With the click of a button I feel a gust of air.  Ahhhh…this is fantastic. 

Too fantastic – always a glass half empty kinda gal, I quickly look down at my crackberry.  (my work mandated electronic handcuff-uhhh, I mean phone)

No annoying flashing red light?  Huh.  Ok, could it be true?  I’d now had a full 15 minutes to myself without being bothered by ANYONE! 

As the traffic light turned green I began to accelerate when BAM. 

What the?! 

It sounded like a meteor had hit me. 

I looked around for some sort of confirmation from my fellow drivers on the road.  Surely I’d turn to see the woman next to me staring with her jaw dropped, but nothing?!?!  No acknowledgement what-so-ever. 

Had no one else heard that?!?! I on the other hand had literally jumped out of my seat. 

I looked up through my sunroof at the trees cascading above my head then to the ground in front of me.   Putting my sleuth skills to the test I quickly pieced the mystery together.     

An acorn had fallen from Fall missing my head by mere inches!  Seriously, I can’t make this $hit up!  (well, maybe I can, but this is a true story.) 

 

I reached up defeated and closed the sunroof.

Just like that my fantastic 15 minutes were over. 

Later that night, upon further thought, instead of being sad and cursing the furry rat food, I chose to  look at it from The Keeper’s glass half full point of view. 

It was a great 15 minutes while it lasted!

~The Keepers Wife

Once Bitten Twice Shy

Drum roll please…..

Notice something new up top?! 

With Post #5 comes my fancy new Keeper’s Wife Header created by a certain someone who is employed by a certain graphics department at a certain publicly traded company. Eh-hum…Thanks - - -!!! As promised, some home-made Italian baked cookies are coming your way.  (In case you’ve forgotten, as mentioned in a previous post, Food=Big Hug)  So consider my cookies a big hug.  (There’s a joke in there somewhere about my cookies.)

Business has taken me to the second city this week. Not familiar?  I’m talkin’ about Chi-Town folks!

Home of the Chicago Bears,

Infamous Deep Dish pizza,

& The Almighty. 

No, not Barack Obama….

I’m talking about Oprah of course!

Dontcha just love Oprah?!  Unfortunately I didn’t have any Oprah sightings.  What a spectacle that would've been!  Working in the "Biz" it takes a special someone for me appear star struck, though I can imagine an Oprah sighting would put me over the top!

I once heard Damon Wayans report in an interview, “I’m doing well, but it’s not like I’ve got “Oprah Money” or anything.”  Can you imagine being so loaded that your income is referred to as an adjective?  

Since this trip was primarily for business, there wasn’t really any time for sight seeing.  I did however play hooky for approximately 30 minutes to grab some lunch with the Southern Bell.  When in the windy city we never miss the opportunity to feast at Potbelly’s sandwich shop. 

While partaking in some much needed girl talk I enjoyed a scrumpdillyicous hoagie appropriately named “The Italian”. 

This 6 inch sammi is filled with all sorts of goodness including all the greats from salami and pepperoni to melted provolone cheese -topped with all the fixins’.  It’s even toasted on a crusty roll!  (Whole Wheat of course, with all that fat, ya gotta serve it on something healthy right?) 

What exactly does “all the fixins" mean you ask?  With much consideration, I selectively chose, lettuce, oil & vinegar, Potbelly’s famous Italian seasoning and….Hot Peppers. 

Factoring in my background, it would be safe to assume that I’m no stranger to hot peppers right? 

Wrong. 

Hot Peppers, along with many other culinary delights weren’t very popular in my Mothers kitchen growing up.  Don’t get me wrong, my Mother is a great cook, but when it came to family dinner, she didn't really stray too far out of the proverbial macaroni box. 

That said, when I left the nest, I slowly began to expand my horizons.

Things I’d Never Eaten Before The Age of 24:

(that I now find super yummy)

1.  Coconut (Mom doesn’t like this, so it doesn’t enter the house.) 

                2.  Duck (Who knew?) 

3.  Fish (Chilean Sea bass YUM)

4.  Chili  (and all other Mexican Delights)

5.  Avocado – I LOVE AVOCADO…ON and/or IN anything.  Nuff said. 

So, back to the peppers. 

Upon first bite, the peppers were fan-freaking-tastic.  Just enough heat without overpowering the sandwich.

And then.

Without warning.

The machine gun sneezes began. 

It was uncontrollable.  For a brief moment, I considered getting up to take the scene outside so as not to embarrass the Bell; but quickly came to my senses and removed all evidence of said adversaries from the roll. 

I later came to find that that the sneaky Potbelly’s sandwich creators include Jalapeños in their “Hot Pepper Mix”.  Seriously?!  You’re a chain restaurant people! 

Lookout Potbelly’s I’m on to you!  As my Grandfather would say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! 

Hehe…Sounds so dramatic! 

To heck with it, I’ll just order a ham and cheese next time. 

~The Keeper's Wife

Someone Got Your Panties In a Bunch?

It happened this morning while stopped at a four way intersection on my way into the office.  As the light turned green I hesitated before hitting the gas.  I have no idea why.  Typically I behave like a 16 year old who’s just received her learners permit racing off like I’m a member of the Daytona 500. 

Ok, I'm no Jeff Gordon, but I can have a bit of a lead foot at times.  What made me hesitate?  Was it the fact that I hadn’t had my extra large cup of java at this point and was still in a bit of a stupor?  Perhaps the cosmic forces were reaching out to me with some sort of celestial warning?  Who knows?  It was at this moment when 2 cars whizzed through a red light right in front of me.  Had I stomped on the gas peddle as I normally do, I would have been demolished. 

I thought…huh…wow…just like that it all could have been over.  For a brief moment I was shaken.  Images of things I’d never done were racing through my head.  (I have a short bucket list that I’ve been checking off over time – more to come on that later.)  I’d never given in to the Keeper’s pleas for a skydiving excursion, never learned how to salsa properly, and never tasted Chinese food in China! My head was spinning. 

Today had already started out as “one of those days” before I’d even left the apartment.  The pup was acting like a maniac all morning crying and moaning to play.  My hair wasn’t co-operating, and even though all of my laundry had been laundered, I couldn’t find ANYTHING to wear!  I couldn’t even make a simple undergarment decision without weighing the pros and cons.  You see, I was really in a granny panty kinda mood, but was afraid that the panty line would be obvious in the jeans I’d finally picked out. This is a risk that I wasn’t willing to take. 

I suddenly heard Kelly Rippa’s voice ringing in my ears.  (Due to my late start -aka lingering in the house this morning, I was able to tune into Live with Regis and Kelly before I went to work.)  While partaking in her “host chat” segment with Regis….Kelly reported,

“Nudity can strike at any time!” 

Now how is this relevant?  Kelly went on to tell the audience that she was taught at a young age never to leave the house in underwear that you weren’t proud of.  This is something we’ve all heard from our parents at one time or another. 

She quipped, “God forbid I were to get into a car accident! If they’re gonna need to cut me out of my clothes, I wanna make sure that I’m presentable!”  Regis went on to explain that Kelly typically wears a thong.  What?!  Why Reeeg would be armed with this info, I have no idea and frankly don’t want to spend more time thinking about it –Ewwwwww!  

It’s funny how things come full circle.

Was I happy with my choice of knickers this A.M.?  Not particularly.  We all have those few pairs of undies that we’ve been hanging on to for ages -that feel good pair of comfy bottoms you can slip into on a bad day that make everything wong, right.  (The pair that you probably should get rid of, but just can’t seem to add them to the trash.)  Mine are a pair of cotton panties with little lolli-pops drawn on. Cute huh! I randomly purchased these bloomers while visiting the In-Laws in Oklahoma and have been in love since their very first wear. 

Frankly, I'm ashamed to admit that I haven’t been too thrilled with my underwear drawer at all as of late!  Now what kind of statement is that for a Newlywed to making?  (I wonder what the Keepers thoughts are on this!)  I feel a purge coming on!  Victoria Secret was kind enough to send me a birthday certificate in the mail just last week.  Maybe it’s time to put that bad boy to good use!  Lookout Keeper some new intimates are on the way! 



Just Kidding!! ;) ;)



Let's get real for a sec, when is the appropriate time to throw out underwear?  Do you toss them when their color fades?  When you notice holes?  When they get stretched out? 

How long do you hang on to your drawers?   -Discuss. 

~The Keepers Wife

Avalanche Hits New England - with Great Impact

On a lovely April morning mere months ago I slipped on a pair of my always comfy, never let ya’ down when you’re feeling bloated pair of jeans only to receive a rude awakening.  They were tight.  I don’t just mean slightly tight, I mean the downright uncomfortable, shimmy on the bed to get them on, leave the button dent in your skin when you take them off kind of tight.  Shocked and dismayed, I began to cry. 

Fast-forward through my tearful breakdown, I made a snap decision that something had to be done.  I’ve been battling the same 15-20lbs for the past few years now.  Enough is enough!    While re-telling this story to a good friend, (a Southern Bell who happens to be a few years my senior) I received a supersized spoonful of truth.   “Well, you are over 30 now!” -Oh no she didn’t!!  (But she did have a point!)  I have to be honest; weight loss is legitimately tougher in my 30’s vs. 20’s, though gaining weight seems to come with ease!  Funny how that works huh? 

When it comes to dieting, I’ve tried it all, from Weight Watchers points and core programs, to Low Carbs and High Protein, even most recently the ever popular 5 small meals a day.  When followed properly, some have actually worked quite well.  (Though, eating 5 small meals a day actually made me gain weight, and I don't need any help in that area thank you very much!) 

Over the years a few of my relatives have battled this very same problem.  That said I’m blaming it on genetics!!  Just kidding!  (sort of)
If only I’d be able to keep my right hand out of the potato chip bag and my left out of the cookie jar, I’d be all set! 

The Keeper has been a wonderful confidant throughout my yo-yo woes.  When I suggested that I “get my fat a$$ to the gym”.   Instead of fluffing me off as some husbands do, and lying to me, he found an eloquent way to agree while only mildly hurting my feelings. 
The decision was made…I needed to work out. 

As a huge admirer of list making and research, I quickly buckled down to find a solution - to the net I went. 

“Are you sick of the same old boring routines?”  - Uhhhh what routines?  That would imply that I actually work out. 
“Tired of Feeling Low on Energy and Lack of Confidence?”  -  Yes, yes I am tired of feeling low on energy and frankly my confidence has been in the garbage as well, so yes to that too!   
And ladies and gentlemen, here’s what sealed the deal….

“Want to look better naked?”  -Abso-freakin-loutely! - SOLD! 

Hut…two…three…four.  With that said, I joined up.  I’ve been attending Boot Camp and seeing a trainer since April and have never felt better.  I’m down 12lbs and have lost multiple inches -until, 2 weeks ago that is. 

It started with a visit from my parents.  Some left over cold cuts and a container of potato salad turned into a small snowball.  Ever go to the grocery store hungry? 
I did.
Last week.
I managed to cover my favorite food groups in one fell swoop and the small snowball quickly turned into an avalanche. 
My cabinets are now the gate keepers to some typically forbidden items.  (Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and some good old fashioned Lay’s Potato Chips.)   My freezer is no exception.  Peek inside and you’ll find a gallon container of Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream.  Even my crystal candy dishes couldn’t escape the insanity and are overflowing with some creamy, ever indulgent, individual pieces of Bliss dark chocolate. 

Here’s where things go from bad to worse. 

Those of you who know me can attest to the fact that I am a Coke addict.  As the slogan goes, “Coke is it!”
Calm down, I am not a hardcore narcotic junkie.  The sweet nectar of Coca-Cola Classic is my drug, and dare I say it people, only yesterday I might have been seen taking a few sips of said addiction.   (I somehow blocked out the voice of my trainer ranting about the "empty calories" that can be found in regular soda.) 

(I can’t help it!  It’s like a dessert in a can.) 



I have no will power what-so-ever.  I try…really I do, but I love to eat.  Food=Big Hug for many and I’m coming to realize that I’m no different. 

As the saying goes, the first step is admitting that you have a problem, but no worries folks, ya know why??

-Every tomorrow is a chance to start over….a better day. 

~The Keepers Wife

The Seventh Day

I’ve noticed a certain vibe in the air as of late, a sense of camaraderie amongst the men in my life. The hubs seems much less irritable and the guys in my office are noticeably….. what’s the word….nicer! So why the sudden mood shift?
As the Frank and Nancy Sinatra classic goes, they’re all “Feelin’ kinda Sundayyyyy.” Huh?



The Season that every red-blooded American male sports fan has been chomping at the bit for all year is finally upon us. I’ll give you a hint, it starts with an F.

No not Fall……FOOTBALL!!

ESPN reports can be heard blaring from most television sets throughout my office building and the Keeper can be found hiding in the guest room conducting mock Fantasy Football Drafts daily.
While perusing the net for some inspiration I found myself scanning the pages of Dictionary.com and happened upon the below:
Keeper – a play in which the quarterback retains the ball and runs with it, usually after faking a hand-off or pass.

As a novice Football fan, I don’t claim to know what this means.  However, according to my football drooling cronies this play is more commonly known as the Quarterback Keeper, a play used by QB’s that are “runners”. Something “that the infamous Michael Vick often pulled.” – Hmmmm, Michael Vick. I don’t quite know how I feel about him, but I digress.

Until recently, other than attending a Super Bowl Party or two, football was pretty foreign to me. I grew up in family of four with one Sister 5 years my senior. Residing in a house with 3 women, it’s easy to empathize with my Dad! Come Sunday, rather than taking in a football game, my Father could be found watching a chick flick at the movies, or even worse in the Keepers eyes, partaking in a dreaded shopping excursion. Poor Poppi!

Upon meeting the Keeper it became clear to me that this was not how my married life would go down! Oh no, from September- February there would be no pleasure filled trips to the mall. At least not on Sunday’s! (To be fair, I was warned of this stipulation before I “said yes” when he proposed.)

The Keeper, on the other hand, comes from a family of Football loving FANATICS, -serious fans that consider the colors of Orange and Black to be sacred on Sundays (and pretty much any other day of the week!) A clan that worships the game considering it a time honored tradition. Think I’m embellishing?

I was formally welcomed into the fam on our Wedding Day when the Best Man (the Keepers Uncle and BFF) ended his heartfelt toast by presenting me with my first Football Jersey, publicly making it official.
I was now a Bengal Fan.

Come game day it’s quite reasonable to say that chores and daily responsibilities pretty much go out the window at our home.  The Keeper can be found getting comfy on the couch with a frosty beverage in his right hand, and some sort of fried goodness in his left.

Thanks to modern technology and the Keepers trusty “Incredible” smart phone, he is hooked into the pulse of any and all NFL happenings 24/7. He can recite injury reports verbatim mere moments after said disasters occur - he is a near expert when it comes to FB stats.

Both the Keeper and his Uncle consider themselves to be excellent strategists and thoroughly enjoy discussing why a team should have won a game on any given Sunday. (As a Bengal Fans this happens more often than they'd like to admit.)  According to the hubs, (and most of the men that I’m surrounded by) Football is a way of life that frankly should be considered a Religion.

To some, this may sound overwhelming and maybe even just plain silly. Many wives fight the idea of surrendering their Sundays. I have chosen to embrace it. When you think about it, how bad is it really?
Anything that combines, family, food, friends and a socially acceptable reason to have a cocktail mid afternoon is alright with me!!

With that said, the countdown to September 12th is on! -Go Bengals!

~The Keeper's Wife