FooFoo Food and AARP

YEP! it is OFFICIAL! Now that I am 50 I have become an official AARP MEMBER!
I am so excited! Just thinking of all the discounts I will get now, when I flash that red and white AARP Card! My toes are just a tinglin'. Now I can buy my airline tickets to go see my baby boy (who will be 28 yrs old) in Virginia to his Wedding to Ms. Erin Collins! and I have discounts to enjoy! I think I can even get a discount on my car rental :)
So this 50 thing is kinda neat, discount cards, Foo Foo Food (see below) and just turning a half century. Wow! Who'd of thunk!

Well here it is folks, I have now officially eaten Foo Foo Food! Isn't it fancy? Doesn't it look delicious?! Well let me tell ya..........it was! Well some of it anyway. That is chicken on garlic mashed potatoes, with portabella mushrooms that are sauteed. That all was pretty good, but it did have some strange things in there I wasn't to crazy about, so I didn't eat them.
Now that I am the Big 50 Martha and Jeff Fisk (friends of mine and Cher's) took us out to dinner to celebrate the half century event! They took us to Spaletto's (I think that is how you spell it) in Northampton, MA. It is a Foo Foo Food place. We had fun, the food was great and I couldn't eat it all, had to take some home. So now I can officially say I have eaten Foo Foo Food. (the meat and potatoes southern girl that I am)

The rich and not so rich in NYC

Here is one of the Many people that work on the street selling tickets for shows and city tours. Most have foreign accents, like Jamacian, Greek, etc.
If you have the $$$$ you to can have a chauffer!!

Most of the apartments, condos and buildings of New York are worth millions $$$$.
Here is a homeless man taking a nap just outside the door of the rich and famous Waldorf Hotel.
This is just one of MANY homeless people living on the streets of New York City. This woman did not beg for money, just a little conversation and to have a cigarette lit. Here is Cher being kind, taking a few moments to say hello to her, listen to her and just care.
This is just ONE of Donald Trumps hotel towers............there are quite a few throughout New York City.

Random pictures of NYC

This picture I took thinking of my son Joey............the internet wiz!!
You'd better have alot of $$$$ to stay at this hotel!!
Nightsights in NYC. This is where Good Morning America broadcasts and Nightline with Diane Sawyer. Sorry to say while we were there we didn't see her.
While in New York, Cher and I went and saw the Broadway Production of Mamma Mia. It was great! funny! and a blast! All the old Abba tunes were played and sung in the production . If you get to NYC I recommend............go and see it!
The Color Purple is being played on Broadway.
The Empire State Building. Cher and I didn't go to the Empire State building on this trip, there was just so much to see and do in 3 days..............this will be on another trip.
Some of the beautitful detailed hand scuptured work on some of the older buildings in NYC. This is not done anymore, as the unique handcrafting ability by the craftsmen were Europeans, and they went back home after completing their job here in NYC. The trade was not passed down to anyone that remained in NYC, thus this beautiful detailed work is not done anymore. But NYC is proud to have some of it's older buildings with this artwork and preserves it.
New York city during the daytime
Nighttime in New York City
A busy street in New York City
New York Citys Finest.........NYPD
Reflections of a building on a building
The dancing water fountain in NYC. The kids got a kick out of it!
A group of students on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty. They all bought their hats and had their picture taken with Lady Liberty (see her holding the flag sitting down?)
Cher and I at one of the resturants in New York City, it is called "Frankie and Johnny's" it was recommended by one of the employees at our hotel, the Hotel Edison.
The food was great but VERY expensive! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone touring NYC. Cost charged per meat, vegetable, salad, pasta, ect. Everything was priced individually...........$$ But hey, how often do I get to NY anyway?
THE CHOCOLATE place in New York City! Do you believe I didn't go in there??? Cool storefront huh?
I took this picture of the city as we were going over the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn .
Sights of Chinatown
A trip through Chinatown was great too! The smells of all the foods cooking, all the oriental decorations, and a statue of one of the founders of Chinatown.
One of the MANY street vendors in New York City.
Part of the sight seeing tour was a visit to Harlem. It is not what it once was.........down trodden, dirty, crime ridden.........delapadated buildings. Everything is being revitalized and is so pretty! Nice new buildings, the streets are clean and the people are so friendly.
Carriage rides throughout the city were a common sight.
The "Lady" out in New York Harbor. Cher and I didn't do the cruise out to Ellis Island, that will be on a future trip! There is just so much to do and see in New York, there is NO WAY you can just see it all in 3 days.
Can you tell who is the cute one? :) This is the famous Bull in NYC
A cross Tribute to the fallen people at the Twin Towers of 9/11. The cross was made of beams from the rubble of the Twin Tower buildings.

This is the only way to see all of New York City! Cher and I took 2 days of doing the "tourist" thing on the top of one of these buses. It was so cool! you could see everything, and the weather was perfect, we even got a little sunburn :)
Anyone want to go over the Bridge to Brooklyn NY?
The nightlights in Time Square in New York City

Random pictures of NYC

A discount store for millionaires? Hmmm...........I wonder if Donald Trump shops there?

Back from the Big Apple NYC!

Part of Times Square

The lights, the people, the taxi's! The street vendors, the cops, the city noise, it was all so exciting!!

Ahhh! New York City and the Statue of Liberty! That's me with the "Lady".......it was a beautiful! marvelous 3 days in the big apple! Arrived there Wednesday, after stopping by a friends house (Jane) in New York. Cher and I had a great time visiting with Jane and the kids, Michael, Andrew and Mia. Jane then directed us to the train station (we followed her) and took the train (Hudson River route) into Grand Central Station in NYC. The train trip was about 45 min. to an hour and very scenic. Stopping along to the way into NYC to pick up passengers.
Got into Grand Central Station and walked up to Times Square, our hotel room was only a block from Times Square.

50 Years of Cher!!

Here she is.............the 50 girl! Cher turned 50 on May 2nd (remember I just turned 50 myself!) The beautiful roses are from one of Cher's bestest! friends in New York, her name is Jane and they were nurses together way back when.

Now that we are both the big 50, Cher and I are off to New York City for a few days of fun, a show and who knows what else we may find (or get into :) )

So tada! the 50 Girls are making their way to the Big Apple today..................pictures to follow.........when we return..................:)

50 in the Big Apple

Well it is off to the Big Apple today to do the "tourist" thing and take in the Broadway Production of Mama Mia! Cher and I will be stopping by a friends house in NY, then taking the train into Grand Central Station. We will be staying at the Edision Hotel a block from Times Square. Last time we were there (approx. 4 years ago) we had stopped by the Edision Bar/Pub which is connected to the hotel to have a drink and listen to live piano music. Well come to find out, most of the people that go there are actors/actresses, singers, etc. from Off Broadway and they were wonderful!! Totally professional. We met Bob the owner of the hotel and bar, and he and I got to talking about the military (he being retired Army and having been stationed at some of the same places that my Dad (being military in the Army) and I as a military wife (years ago!).......we had a great conversation and he was so nice. I told him if I ever got back to NYC I would come to his hotel and stay there and look him up! So I am gonna! When I had gotten back to Virginia, I mailed him a postcard from Williamsburg, VA. to thank him for his friendliness and conversation. So I am excited to see him again! Cher and I can't wait to be in the Big Apple again, and hope to see Diane Sawyer (Cher's idol) and catch all the excitement, sounds and everything NYC has to offer!
Lovely Amanda (Cher's niece) will be staying at the house to take care of the kittys. And by the way............SHE WAS ACCEPTED TO NURSING SCHOOL!!!!! She deserves it, she has worked so hard to get there, and with the person that she is, she will be a wonderful, compassionate, caring, loving, thoughtful ( I could go on and on, she is a great kid!) nurse to patients and the patient's families. Doctors will be glad to have her on thier team!

Well gotta go get packed for NYC!! Be back in town Friday..........see ya!

Easter Bunny Cake

Here are the Wagner girls with their traditional Easter Bunny Cake. They have made it every year since they were little. You have Julia in the pink, Ms. Emily in the blue, Mrs. Wagner and Cher. The cake was yummy! and we look forward to it every Easter!!

Kitty Cards

I got the most wonderful kitty cards from my kittys! for my 50th Birthday...........the one on the left is from Felix.....he LOVES his Mommy! The picture looks just like him! He thanked me for loving him and taking care of him his whole life. I watched him being born with his brother and sister (who were given to loving families) and even had to bottle feed him the second 3 weeks of his life, as his sweet mother passed away. So I had 3 kittens to feed with little baby bottles and kitten formula that I picked up at Walmart.
The 2nd card is from my Cleo.................the card looks just like her! She is such a Diva and a Queen. I picked her out at the local animal shelter in Springfield 2 years ago. She had been there for over a month and no one wanted a white long haired kitty. I did! I saw her and just knew I had to bring her home. She loves her Mommy Cher and is spoiled rotten like Felix. Believe me, they both have the life! I LOVE!! the cards......................Cleo thanked me for picking her from all the other kittys in the shelter and playing with her every night (we have this ritual) she jumps on her favorite chair and I have this fuzzy tail that she loves to attack. We have a fun time, she is so cute with her eyes all "wild".

A Half a Century of Me!!

Can you believe it??!! Yep, I have been on God's earth now for 50 years!! I think it is amazing! great! fantastic! 50 is such a cool number! It does sound weird though when I say it to my self............50.................50 years....................50 years old. I think about it and can't really believe it yet. (Probably in the morning when I get up and my bones are a crackin' I will believe it better then) What happens when one turns 50. Will my hot flashes finally go away? What about the "new" chin I have grown...........it wobbles like a turkey gobblers neck! My eyes seem to have gotten smaller too...........ah.....it is the "droopy lid" syndrome I have heard about. I am getting "bumps" on my legs, arms, face, on my head in my hair!!,..........I went to the dermatologist and he said "it is just age" AGGG!!! and I thought I was developing cancer or something by the growths (my regular doctor was worried and said I should have them checked right away!)..........just age he says. Whew! I feel better about that!!
I can't see as well anymore, but in a way that is good, I can't see the gobbler chin as well, or all the age bumps. I can't see the new lines that are developing on my face, or the skin that now sags ..................ah 50 is great! I don't see the strands of hair everyday getting grayer (Clairol helps believe you me!).........but what I do see when I look in the mirror in the morning is my MOTHER!! I believe this new decade is going to be great........what you can't see won't bother you, and what does you can just rack it up to growing older!! Hey you can have it both ways now in this new decade of mine. I think I am gonna like it. I have to look at my Mom and my grandmother...........both 77 and 96. My other grandmother lived til 98 and her mother my great-grandmother Nana.............was 103 when she passed. So statistically I have only lived half my age! The next 50 should be an adventure.......come to think of it I still wanna go para-gliding :)

Happy Birthday to Me!! The BIG 50!!

Happy Birthday to me............Happy Birthday to me...................Happy Birthday to me.............

Flowers and a Gold Watch

Look at those Roses will ya!! They came from my son Joey , he is so thoughtful!! for the Big 50! that I turned today. and see what is on the roses?! A BEAUTIFUL gold watch!! A birthday present from Mr. and Mrs. Wagner, Cher's parents........they love me! It is really cool, it is a new technology watch, it doesn't have a battery, it is charged by the sun. Click on the picture for a better view!!

Birthday Cake!!

Yum!! Just look at my Birthday Cake! a chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake!! I am a happy, happy girl!!

Beautiful 50th Birthday Flowers!I

Here I am admiring the beautiful flowers I recieved for my birthday...........Roses from my son, and a beautiful spring boquet from my best friend Cher.

50 Years Young!

And so it begins........................................................................................................................................BEAUTIFUL! Roses from my son Joey!! Wishing me a Happy 50th Birthday!!!
Well it had to happen people................I turned the BIG 50!! Surprised? Me too!
My Mom called me to wish me happy birthday and we got to reminising about the day I was born. My Mom and Dad were playing cards with a few friends one evening, and the guests all left early that night (April 16th, 1956) because the next day was work. My Mom said that she hadn't even gotten to get in the bed when I decided to enter into this world. Water break!!
My Dad rushed my Mom and Cheine(prnounced She - en) (French for DOG) to the hospital at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Got my Mom settled in at the hospital and my Dad and the dog had to leave. Back in those days (50 years ago remember) the men weren't allowed to stay-that's the military for you, couldn't even wait around in the hallway for goodness sakes to see his baby girl! So my Dad left with the dog and went home. My Mom said some where in the wee hours of the morning (now it is April 17th, 1956) I was born - Patricia Ann Carlisle, little bit of a thing, 5 pounds , something ounces (can't tell now can ya!)..........blue eyes and NO HAIR. My Dad ended up knick naming me "Blueberry Muffin" cause I looked like one..........2 blue eyes and a muffin head with no hair.
Any who.............I was born, the first grandchild on both sides and the pride and utmost JOY! of the Carlisle and Galligan families. Ah! to be the first!

Bub's BarBQ Place

Cher and I went to a little place in Hadley near the University of Massachusetts for Bub's famous Bar-B-Q. It was great! I had the Bar-B-Q chicken with collard greens (they were ok, but I could tell they were not fresh as like I got down south) some cole slaw, potato salad and real brewed ice tea. Cher had the pulled pork with all the fixins too. It was a cute quaint little place, rustic, with picnic tables, paper towels for napkins, old doors, floors, etc. They have great food! Actually the man "Bub" as he is called who owns the place, did it quite accidentally. I was reading all about it as I ate. On the walls in there they have interesting news articles about the place, and people who have stopped to eat there, famous baseball players and movie stars.
Anyway..............back to Bub. Seems he was a pro golfer and the manager of a golf resort down in Florida. He had an accident (the article didn't say what kind of accident) and he had a back injury. He couldn't play golf anymore or work. The resturant (that is now Bubs) decided to let Bub buy it (guess it wasn't doing to good) anyway..........he bought it and started making his "secret"sauce that he had gotten from an inmate who he had employed when he was the manager at the resort. Well the sauce was a hit! He smokes all his meats, chicken, pork, steak, fish, even alligator tail and slops plenty of his secret barB-Q sauce on it. People started coming from everywhere (heard how wonderful it was by word of mouth) and he was doing a booming business. Through the years as time has gone on he has opened 2 franchises down in Orlando Florida that his grown son runs. His wife is from Georgia and she makes all the homemade desserts.......but I didn't have any, I was to full! Maybe next time.

Well if ya ever get to Hadley stop by Bub's Bar-B-Q, and as the sign says "Pig out in Style", you won't regret it! and they even let you eat with your fingers there and smack your lips! and actually they encourage it!!
Yum!