emtnester

How Not to Spend Your Sunday Afternoon

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:02:00 +0000

It was a beautiful, warm Sunday and the weather has finally decided to calm down here in the Phoenix area. I could have lounged under an umbrella and read a good book by the pool. I could have left the windows open and watched Football games while laying on the couch all afternoon. But sometimes work gets in the way of the best-laid plans.

My partner and I headed down to the Ultimate Woman's Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center, to find future vendors for a Wellness and Beauty Expo scheduled for this spring for a client of ours. Spending time with Rada is always fun and we accomplished exactly what we set out to do, as there were many wonderful companies at this expo. But that's not what this post is about.....

Have we stooped so low as a country that we actually choose to spend out Sunday afternoons walking around a gigantic space, with huge plastic bags to collect paper brochures, cheap giveaways and drink pee-sample cups full of some energy-producing drink? Judging by the number of people attending this expo, the answer is unequivocally, YES!

I cried for the trees cut down so that we could produce this endless waste of printed pulp. I wonder how much of it landed in trash cans for today's pick-up.

The vendors shared with us that many people weren't buying at the expo this year. Blamed it on the economy. And maybe that was true. I did see whole families trying to piece together the chocolates from one booth with the green tea samples and finishing off their meal with a cup full of popcorn. Our favorite line was for the free squirt of some kind of alcohol. Most of the women in line had strollers, by the way.

Part of the blame needs to go to the vendors themselves. It's was kind of fun to go up to a booth and start asking technical questions on exactly how their product worked. The answers were hysterical. "The light beems to the patch that allows your wrinkles to relax in about two weeks!" Maybe the product is amazing but the salesmen were uneducated and laughable at best. What I learned is to become a skeptic, that's all.

So free is good, except for the gas to get there and the $10 parking fee!

Is it just me (an empty nester), or have we as a nation stopped paying attention to the quality of our lives?

It's 10:16 am and the Main Reason I Cannot Get Things Done

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:16:00 +0000

I've been up since 5:30 am, walking Wrigley all over the newly-mowed golf course grass, answered all my emails, and now I am stuck in this weird zone that has captured me everyday for two weeks now.

The symptoms:

Spending at least fours hours glued to the computer "researching" resorts in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico with no end or trip in sight;

Up at 1 am, channel surfing and ending up on shows like E! News with Ryan Seacrest until I fall back asleep around 3 am.

Exercising in slow motion. Seriously, you try it without completely cracking yourself up looking at the reaction from the other people around you exercising! It's the most fun I have all day. The elliptical machine is my favorite piece do my slow exercising.

The prognosis:

Last week, the Wall Street Journal wrote a story and listed blogs about the Empty Nest and I was not listed! Of course, why would I be? I have hardly written a word for six months much less something worthy of reading and posting in an article in the one paper I read cover to cover every damn day!

Still, it bothers me because when I started to write this blog, I wanted to be awe-inspiring, hilarious, worthy of mention in the WSJ! It makes me mad that I have not figured out how to work full-time (as needed) AND write interesting material on my blog, too. I'm so busy telling everyone about the Twilight Farmers Market or some other event that I am wiped out and instead turn to endless Googling/Binging or whatever for the best island getaway!

The treatment:

I am going to write something, no matter how disgusting or stupid it sounds, on my little empty-nester blog....hopefully everyday. I figure eventually, the words might string together nicely.

I am also going to start reading more blogs again, to get me in the mood. You know what I mean, don't you?

And I am going to pray that the WSJ adds my blog in a retraction piece, in a statement of omission! (That's http://emtnester.blogspot.com).

Thought of the Day for the Empty Nest Mom

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:56:00 +0000

One day I will make enough money and all 10 of my nails will be well-manicured and groomed 24/7! The only problem, I may be 75 years old at that time, and may not care anymore about such things.

Go Away and Suddenly It Looks Suspicious

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Okay, I have been a busy little bee and actually working for a living and haven't written a single word on my emtnester blog. It's not as if I don't have a million things to say and to tell you, it's just at the end of the day, I am exhausted. Two glasses of wine with dinner and I am like a jelly fish plopped on the couch. The computer is a million miles away and my fingers are like lead. It's not a pretty sight.

I have a good friend who still comes to my website daily to check if I have written a post and to click on my literacy widget and yesterday, the message read that my blog was closed due to suspicious activity! Curious, I rushed over to see what I was missing. Everything looked normal to me. Have you ever had this happen to you? Is someone using my little blog to hide millions of dollars from a foreign source? If so, I want a piece of the action. All this real work I have been involved with is fun but really I could stand a few weeks at a deserted beach somewhere. Maybe Google will send me a report to tell me what the heck they suspect.

Anyway, it's been one whole year of being an empty nester Mom and I guess you could say that I have come full circle. My daughter is back at school in Pennsylvania and happy as can be. She loves her classes, has a delightful new roommate and she is "rushing" this week. She has identified two sororities that she thinks would be a good fit and seems very relaxed about the whole process. I credit the school and the sororities for making the process very relaxed and natural. Or else, Laura is oblivious to what's going on around her. Either way, she's one happy camper and that, in turn, makes me a happy and relaxed empty nest parent.

I am sort of concerned about the swine flu on college campuses. She told me that a boy was sent home for a week to recover from swine flu (his room is across the hall!). Poor kid. It seems like dorm halls are like flu breeding places that seem rather unhealthy. I know that Moms who are generally anxious about health issues are freaking out now about this so I hope their kids can stay healthy at school. You feel sort of helpless when your child is a thousand miles away and sick in her dorm or apartment bed.

That's it for now. I have to shower and dress for today's meetings. Hope to see you soon.

Three Weeks Left with Laura, But Who's Counting? ME!

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:59:00 +0000

So, I am starting to get the hang of working 60-70 hours a week AND be able to blog here. The problem seems to be that when I sit down for my scheduled time to write on emtnester, I don't have a single thought to put down. There are plenty of other times in the week, that lots of funny things come to mind, though. Add to it the wondering mind of an empty nester and then it's really a mess.

I was checking out my Facebook and see that a whole lot of women I would really like to meet are all together at blogher 2009, in Chicago, I start thinking about how fun that conference could really be. Mary Anne from the best blog, called The Stiletto Mom, is there looking relaxed and having some interesting times. She would be fun to meet and party together for sure. It's just not my year for running around and developing my blog. It's "make money for the family" year, and I have to say that I am really enjoying all the assignments I am currently doing.

For one of the projects, I write a daily blog about all the things going on at the Citadelle Plaza. There are lots of cool pictures, too. Please come by and check it out and make a comment!! Go here: (Thanks, I needed that).

So, even thought it was already 95 degrees at 9:00 am, Bill and I took Wrigley to an outdoor breakfast place that loves dogs. We still have to pick up Wrigley to get into the back seat of a car, which I find hysterical. Until today....

A few tables over, there was a huge 145 pound dog. We were told that she is just a puppy but she was extremely well-behaved while the people were eating. As they got up to go to their car, the man opened his SUV back flap and proceeded to lift the little pup into the car, too. Glad he's strong! It made me feel a little better for some reason to see someone else deal with a dog who cannot get into a car.

Wrigley is behaving much better at this restaurant. He sits then drops and waits for small treats of left-over scrambled eggs from us. While he waits, he drools all over his thick coat of fur. By the time we leave, his whole mane is sopping wet! It's pretty gross. I try to wipe it up with the extra napkins, which is probably pretty darn appealing to the table next door! But he really loves to go and somehow, he knows when it's Saturday morning and starts whining around 7:30 am telling us, come on, let's get going!

I having begun the countdown for when Laura will be leaving for school. It's not that I want her to go, it's more how can I fit in all the things we could do...should do...need to do...before she goes back. It's sort of a mini-empty-nest-Mom-panic many of us do just before our children take off back to college. I do feel anxious and get depressed on occasions, but being so darn busy is helping. Or maybe, I'm so tired, I do not have the energy to stress about it.

Guess, I'll just keep plugging along. See you soon.

I Need Your Vote Today: Twilight Farmers Market is the Best

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:36:00 +0000

Boy, it feels good to be over here, writing to you.

I've been busy writing a blog at http://www.citadelleplaza.com and have neglected my blog. I keep thinking that one day I will wake up and have something interesting to say and start writing about it. Then, two minutes later, the flippin' phone rings and someone needs something, someone needs an invoice or directions and wants something I have. The day goes by and nothing gets written here.

Well, I'm here tonight, a stormy night in Scottsdale, AZ. Mind you, I haven't seen rain in over 90 days, but who's counting?!

I've gained weight through this non-writing period, go figure. Everyone said that once I got dressed and actually left my computer chair that the pounds would leave my hips and thighs quickly. No such luck.

I do have one request: go to: http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/30977 and give your name and email address and vote for the Twilight Farmers Market as the best in the country. That would really mean a lot to me. I'll probably get more votes from here than anywhere else.

The storm tonight has stirred my emotions as to what exactly I should do with my life. And the answer is, exactly what I'm doing, of course, but it's still an important question to ask. Mostly, I just let the tide carry and toss me around...taking care of all those people surrounding me. I'm still looking for the worm, remember.

I want to write here more and hope I take the time to do so. It's healthy and makes me feel good, especially when someone comments or responds with great or crazy advice. I love it all.

See you soon....

The Joys of Working Full-Time Again

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:05:00 +0000

The funny thing about returning to a full-time position is that your whole life gets engrossed with whatever you are working on. For me, that's putting on a Twilight Farmers Market for a beautiful shopping center in Glendale, Arizona.

It's a really unique market, with the best local farmers bringing their produce, the local artisan bakers bringing their goodies, kids cooking classes, musical and dancing performances each week, a celebrity or interesting local person rings the market bell to open the market and cool tenant give-aways, too. I could on, but the list is too long.

Having an event every week is very exhausting. Your adrenaline shoots up the day before, the day of and all during the event. The following day you're wiped out and then you recover. I am just now getting used to this routine. But I have to say that I love it. For now.

My family sort of has to get involved to. Otherwise, we are not doing as much together. Time will fly by and all of a sudden, Laura is back to Dickinson for her sophomore year! I want some quality time with my baby girl. I still feel like I haven't given her all the knowledge a Mom should give to her children. (And maybe you never feel like you've given enough).

This morning, I woke up at 5 am worrying about which umbrellas and stands we should purchase for the market. I found some that might be perfect. But one shouldn't ever worry about umbrellas nor wake up so early thinking about a work issue. You should be sleeping soundly next to your partner. Someone should tell my system that!

I also need to learn how to turn on the on and off button. Work sometimes, play sometimes. It is all this empty nest Mom can handle, that's for sure.

Back From the Empty Nest Depression

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Hello out there. It's true, I am not dead. But it has been over a month or so since I've written on my site.

I started this blog the day my youngest daughter left for college, hence a diary of what it would be like to be an empty-nester, or Emtnester since the EmptyNester domain name was already taken. There were days that were hard and there were days that were wonderful in this new status for me and Bill. But life moved on. I got some writing paid jobs. Then I was asked to handle the marketing for a beautiful mixed-use center with a public relations friend of mine. My sister started selling Worth clothing and she asked to help her, too. So, I got busy. (I had to be dressed before 6 pm when Bill usually comes home). But none of this affected me quite like my middle son's graduation......

Jonathan attended Miami University in Ohio. The exact same day I stopped writing was the weekend of the graduation ceremonies. We all went up to Oxford and had a ball with the families that he shared a house with. The weather was perfect: not too hot, not too cold. My Mom and Ed even came up for the occasion, so it was really special. But Sunday arrived quickly and everyone was leaving. We were the last of the Stone-Southworth clan to leave , around 5 pm. I had attempted to start packing for JB since he had to be out of the house on Monday at noon. I managed to lose his card and check from my Mom while packing, so I was really a big help!

Well, it was 5 pm and we needed to go back to our busy little lives in Arizona. And my little boy was off to Columbus, Ohio to find an apartment and start his first job all by himself, with no help from anyone in his family. Why didn't I plan this better? Am I so busy or broke to go help him start his new life? What about his Dad or his brother? We said our teary goodbyes and drove off while he was sitting on the ledge of his front porch, dangling his feet just like a little boy would do on a beautiful spring day.

I don't remember the ride to the airport, checking in or going through security. I only remember the phone call from Jonathan asking where did I put the check from Gran. And why did I have to start packing; he had everything in control and now we will have to probably stop payment on the check and Gran won't like doing that, on and on. I was devastated. Of course, I know we were all very tired as you keep late hours on college campuses these days. But I felt miserable. And fell right into a month long depression of sorts.

I did not want to share all the great pictures of the weekend. I waited to hear how JB found a great, inexpensive apartment in a week. I waited to hear about his week of training at his new job. I waited to hear about how he and (his friend that's a girl) found a brown couch at a killer price to fill his new place. And I feel Columbus is as far as Sweden.

This is the empty-nester experience that I had so often read about. The queer sadness mixed with joy all rolled up with the overwhelming loneliness and loss of the company of your children. And I just could not think of a single word to write until 4 am this morning. Digging myself out of this dark hole I have been secretly living in all the while working and keeping busy to the outside world.

It's good to see you, too!

Life Moves Past You

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:44:00 +0000

I leave tomorrow for my middle son's college graduation and I can't seem to pack. I cannot decide what to wear. I can't seem to be prepared for this momentous occasion. It's as if I am saying that if I am not ready then it won't happen. Which is crazy talk even for an empty nest Mom.

And why don't I want it to happen? I am thrilled he is graduating, so it's not that. I think that life keeps moving by me (past me?) and I feel I have no control over anything anymore. He's moving on to his first job in Columbus, Ohio. I get to see him for three days and then who knows when I'll see him next. I really enjoy being around him as he makes me feel good. He makes me laugh. He reminds that I am a good Mom and that is something I need right now. Validation.

Really, all three of my children validate my existence very well. Of course, I have my own life: working, being Bill's wife, sister to my sister, daughter to my Mom, slave to my dog (just kidding). But I think the Mom part has been perhaps the largest and most important part for many years. This is one of those big transitions and I am off-the-chart emotional right now.

I wish I had the kind of relationship with my husband where he "fills the void", but that's just not how we work together. If I told him that I was having trouble packing...etc...he would look at me cross-eyed and not have a clue that a big hug would be in order. Or say, "why don't we grab a beer and pack together tonight!".

So, the pictures from graduation will show me in unmatched outfits, the wrong jewelry and inappropriate shoes and there's nothing I can about it. Maybe someday I will sit back, look at these pictures and laugh hysterically.

Here goes nothing...

Flying High and Being Forgetful

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Today, I was blissfully going about my busy day when I answered the daily phone call from my sister. I told her I was loving my new marketing assignment and that everything was going smoothly, just like in the video:

She said, "Great. By the way, who's watching Wrigley while you are up at Jonathan's graduation?" Oops! All of a sudden, I come crashing down to Earth and start a mini-panic. What if I can't find someone to watch him? What would have happened if I had forgotten completely? Luckily, I was able to secure a great dog sitter right away. But all these random thoughts in my head might one day get me into some serious trouble! Go over to Keely's place to read all about random thoughts in the blogworld. We do it every Tuesday and you should, too.

JB Graduates: Mom is Emotional

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:45:00 +0000

One week from today, I head up to Oxford, Ohio to watch my middle son graduate from college (Miami of Ohio University). This is a picture of JB with his friend.................... who happens to be a girl....................... They are not serious.............................. except for the fact that he has accepted a job in Columbus, Ohio, where Sarah will be attending law school next year...............................HMMMM.

This is one of those special Empty Nest Mom moments. So proud, so happy, so sad, so lonely, so energetic and yet, so lethargic. I cannot even look at the picture above without tearing up!

Perfect for my Wordless Wednesday picture entry. Join in on the fun each week...................

Random Teeth Thoughts

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Joining Keely (The UnMom) and 'krew' with some Random Tuesday Thoughts:

I think someone "upstairs" got a little lazy when he/she was designing the teeth of a human. Maybe all creatures' teeth, I don't know; I can only speak for the humans.

There is never a good time in one's life when it comes to their teeth:

When you are a baby and teething, it's painful and you are constantly drooling until your first set has broken skin.

Next, the teeth grow in all crazy-like. They often are crooked and there are big gaps right in the front area. Grown-ups tell you not to worry because you lose this set and grow new ones. So, for about 5 years or so you look ridiculous in every school picture and Holiday photos, too.

Sometimes your teeth grow in so bad that you must get some pulled. Or you get the awesome experience of having braces put on your teeth. I think the person "upstairs" also created braces because they couldn't be worse looking if you tried. Plus they are painful.

Throughout your younger years you get to visit sado-masochists, often referred to as dentists. Here you get to fill the holes in your teeth due to poor teeth-designing from "above" and root canals.

But don't worry, once this time frame is over, its on to implants, bridges, and my favorite....the sawing down of your pitiful teeth only to put fake covers called veneers on them. Now your teeth look great, but you're broke!

You end up back in the baby stage, with all your teeth removed and a full set of dentures sitting and soaking on your bedside table.

Frankly, I am rather disappointed in the engineering and design of our teeth. I give "the big guy" an 'F' in this category.

I am a Stubborn Empty Nester

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000

There is a certain amount of stubbornness that comes with an empty nester Mom. It is borne out of necessity really. Otherwise we would all just be depressed. Let me explain................

Take my clothes closet. It's looks filled to the brim with clothes for work, play, special evenings out and lots of bathing suits. From the look of it, I must be one social butterfly! Yet, 80 % of the clothes that hang in there anxiously wishing to be picked for wearing, do not fit my body. It is really amazing how just 12 little pounds can affect your wardrobe. And yet, I leave them there as I am 80% sure that soon I will be able to fit into these clothes very soon. It is not my nature to get depressed about this weight gain and the fact that I have to wear the same grey and pant pants everyday of my life. So, I become stubborn.

That's our choice: be stubborn or be depressed. Or be lucky.......

I had lunch with a delightful woman last week who is curious about blogging (blog-curious). She was wearing the cutest day dress, and looked like she was in her thirties. She was however, 45 or 46. I imagine everything in her closet fits just fine, thank you. I imagine she eats right and exercises regularly but I still consider her one of the lucky ones. More of us should be so lucky.

Where do you fall in the categories? Are you stubborn, depressed or lucky?

Wordless Wednesday: Thrill Rides

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:05:00 +0000

It's Wordless Wednesday, and since last week one reader pointed out that my post had too many words to be a "wordless" post, I will try to do better this week. (Geez!)

Thrills: We start out our life with the simplest of thrills..............................

My children loved the swings more than everything else. I liked them, too. (My daughter took this photo, by the way).

By the time we are in our twenties and thirties, we seem to need more dangerous (seemingly) thrills to satisfy. This is a picture of one of the best roller coaster-type rides in Las Vegas.

Call me crazy, but I still prefer the swing!

All Thoughts are with Mac Today

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:47:00 +0000

I did not participate in Aloha Friday today, as usual, as all my thoughts are still on McShane, the 13.5 year old golden retriever, who passed away yesterday. Want to read a fantastic dog story and an inspiration to all ?, click here.

Wrigley and Me: A Hit at the Phoenix Tea Party

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:15:00 +0000

My friend could not make it to the Phoenix Tea Party today, so I enlisted my golden retriever, Wrigley, to go downtown with me. We had a blast. Everyone was happy and friendly. It was very clear that people who don't like heavy taxes and Obama-style government programs, love golden retrievers. I already feel better about this country!

By the way, there is no dress code for tea parties....

But clever signs were all the rage. It was fun seeing the variety of the signs and their statements.

One of my favorites' read: "Nancy Pelosi cannot stimulate my package", yuck, yuck.

These kids were the perfect "American Children": Red hair, very white skin and blue clothing. They also love golden retrievers!

There were lots of costumes, like this guy:

I tried to take Wrigley by the bell that sits in front of our State Capital.

And just like this kid who was running in circles around the rose garden, oblivious to all that surrounded him, Wrigley love the affection and the petting and the attention he received from so many nice people. We live in a pretty wonderful nation. We are just a little upset about being taxed unnecessarily and we peacefully protested that grievance.

Phoenix Tea Party: Supporters Left Out in the Cold, Again

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Tonight starting at 4:00 pm, in front of the State Capital building in downtown Phoenix, the Phoenix Tea Party and Rally begins. It's kind of unfortunate because the weather today is rather windy and cold which is unusual for Arizona. I think it's a sign.....................................

Frankly, I feel like I am being left out in the cold by President Obama and his administration. I am told to keep working my butt off (which helps me stay in these panties), volunteer and fund all the charities I can on my off time and then be happy to give (soon to be half) of what me and my husband make towards taxes for the newly-proposed federal government programs. Of course, there is no appreciation or thank you to those of us funding "The American Way". It is just expected of us. Mr. Biden thinks we should feel good about donating our hard earned money so other people can apparently sit at home and watch a football game or play video games with their friends all day long. And don't get me wrong, currently 1/3 of what we make goes straight back to the government, which in the good 'ole days, I used to complain about!

I, for one, am going to put on my warmest clothes, bring a thermos full of Long Island Tea, and head down to the Tea Party in support of a very different tax system than Obama is attempting to put upon his people. I will brave the 50 mile an hour winds, and in my subtle way I will be saying to our President, "Blow Me....your tax system sucks" (very clever little blogger, aren't I?)

Now, I know that Acorn has planned their own little anti-tea party this afternoon, too. That's really not so hard to do, because most of their supporters don't work full-time and can attend a rally most any day of the week. The rest of us got to work early today and will continue working after we have attended the rally. You know, we've got to keep working so the rest of the nation can be home watching their nightly line-up of television shows.

If you are planning to attend this afternoon's event, come look for me. I'll be the one wearing my Republican panties.......er, rather.......... I'll be the one with the thermos of Long Island Iced Tea.

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:38:00 +0000

This Tuesday, my random thoughts are about dogs and sayings and quotes about dogs:

Why is it we have so many varying sayings that include dogs in it?

"I am so doggone tired these days......"

Or, "I am sick as a dog......"

Then there are so many clever quotes about our lives spent with dogs. These came courtesy of The Quote Garden:

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why. ~Author Unknown

The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. ~Ambrose Bierce

Wrigley and Puddles are both very affectionate dogs, living on opposite sides of the country. One jumps in the pool and the other wants to jump into the Chesapeake Bay, but they both want to shake on you and get you wet immediately after the swim!

What are your favorite dog sayings or quotes?

Head over to Keely's site, The UnMom and join in on the random fun this Tuesday.

Easter Dinner with the In-Laws, the Anti-Christ and A Better Tea Party

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:56:00 +0000

In about two minutes I am going to leave this soft, cushy computer chair and start cooking for the Southworth family Easter Dinner. Only my oldest son and his girlfriend will be present on my side of the family. I have had to get used to this as my family hugs the East Coast and I am living in the desert Southwest!

I am somewhat relieved though, because up until a week ago I had no idea that the anti-Christ and her devilish son lived so close to my Mom in Florida. I would have been worried had I known.

And I have a solution to the little pirate problem that exists over by Somalia. Let's (the collective civilized world) just not go in those waters for anything. Yes, change routes, stop visiting and cruising in the area. We should all refuse to use any ports within 1000 miles. It's not worth lives and losses of money.

Finally, would someone please explain to me the whole tea party idea. I know the purpose and I am all for supporting less taxes, but my question is: what are we all going to do at these tea parties? Fling tea bags around? Stomp and chant, "down with taxes"? I have a better idea. Why not have a big outdoor cocktail party, like they do before the Georgia-Florida football games and serve Long Island Iced Teas. That sounds more fun, doesn't it? I am not really the type to go marching around saying, "we will overcome" or whatever the chosen chant will be. So please, if you are planning this massive event in front of the Arizona State Capital building on Wednesday, April 15th, please let me know if you will have open bars for the special tea drinks. Otherwise, this empty nest woman will need to bring her cooler and pitcher with her tea libations.

Aloha Friday: Easter Candy

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Aloha Friday is hear, once again, so sit back and relax and answer my simple question of the day. Here is what the Island Life ladies say:

"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to
the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too.
Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a
lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question
on your blog".
This week the theme is Easter and since I have a sweet tooth today , my question is: "What is your favorite Easter Candy"?
Now peeps are cute and fun, and chocolate bunnies are decadent, my all-time favorite are the jelly beans! I like the regular flavored ones, not the ones like broccoli beans and pomegranate beans and coconut beans. They can be disappointing and downright gross. I love orange jelly beans the best.
I remember when the kids were around, we had bowls of jelly beans placed all around the house. Now there are none. Until tonight when I go grocery shopping.
Is your mouth watering yet?!

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:09:00 +0000

This is my first time participating in Wordless Wednesday. Of course, I am having difficulty placing their widget on my site...that's just the story of my life. Anyway, if you want to participate, go here to read all about it.

Here in Arizona nothing says 'Springtime' and 'Easter' like the flowering bushes and trees that grow in our area. For now, everything is beautiful and fresh and wonderful. Two months from now, this plant material will all be crunchy and fried. Enjoy....

Isn't that beautiful? Time to go hide the colorful Easter eggs....

The Mother and Daughter Bond

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:03:00 +0000

(Photo borrowed from Rick Mueller Studio)

Don't worry, I'm alive and kicking. My plate has just gotten fuller and I'm not talking about my dinner plate. There is a certain amount of excitement surrounding these new assignments. So much so, that I decided I just had to wake up at 1:00 am to think about ideas and strategies and yogurt. In that order.

So, my daughter calls me in the middle of the day and says, "Mom, a friend has asked me to his fraternity formal in California in a couple of weeks and he has a free ticket to get me out there. Can I go?" Keep in mind, she's in college in Pennsylvania. I think to myself:

1) I cannot believe she's asking me, but it's kind of sweet;

2) What if I said in some austere voice, "No, I forbid it". Would she tell him she cannot come? Or would she be angry with me or go behind my back?

I probably wouldn't have asked permission or maybe not even tell my family until I got back. It's not like I didn't care for my family, they were always great to me. It's just Laura and I have kind of bonded in a real special way this year. It's one of life's special empty nest surprises.

So, to Laura I say, "If you can go without affecting your grades and work schedule and it really is "free", then go and enjoy. But be careful".

How deep a conversation should a Mom and a freshman year daughter have? Is it right for the daughter to tell you she's not going to date so-and-so because all he really wants is a friend with benefits?! The line is blurry and undefined for the two of us. But we are happy and very supportive of each other this year. We seem to both want a connection even though we are physically thousands of miles apart.

Aloha Friday: Any Good TV Ideas?

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:01:00 +0000

Thanks to An Island Life , it's time for Aloha Friday! I feel better, more relaxed already.....

This week's theme is centered around television and shows we like and watch. But after walking my dog until 6:30 pm each evening, then cooking dinner and then going to bed around 8:30 pm (due to lack of sleep the previous night), that doesn't leave much time for watching and getting hooked on many TV shows!

So my question for you to answer veers off a little to the right a bit:

You have just been given a ton of upfront money to write your own TV sitcom or reality show. What is your show about...what is it's theme and do you have an actor/actress in mind to star in your show?

That's it. Have fun.....it's Aloha Friday and that's what you are supposed to do, silly!

The Man Upstairs Plays a Cruel April Fool's Joke

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:25:00 +0000

The Man Upstairs decided to play a funny little 'April Fool's' joke on me this morning. He woke me up at 3:00 am and told me it was morning and time to get up and shower for my early morning meeting.

As I pulled myself up and out of bed, I glanced at the clock and then it hit me..he got me!

"April Fool's!....it's not really time to get up after all. That would be several hours from now".

HA HA, very funny Mister Creator of all things good.

But, then I was wide awake and slightly angry. Not at The Man ( not to be mistaken by The Man over at The Stiletto Mom). He would never do such a thing as he would be severely reprimanded by Mary Anne.

Where was I? Lack of sleep does wonders for one's writing focus. Oh, yeah...I was angry at myself for having already folded this week's laundry, which is what I usually do in the middle of the night. So I wonder out to the den and look through glossy magazines of clothes I cannot buy this year on bodies I do not have this year.

Don't you wish you were me?

Insomnia makes for interesting days, especially ones with deadlines and important calls and interviews. I find the best way for this empty nest woman to cope is to simply laugh it off and do the best I can, under the circumstances. Maybe the Man Upstairs could bring on a "sleepy storm" later this afternoon, so I can catch a nap!

My Random Man Crushes are Intellectuals

beth@emtnester.com (beth) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:28:00 +0000

Having a crush on a person you have never met is, of course, rather silly. The infatuation is based on what we see or hear coming from their mouths, even if they are just well-rehearsed lines. What I find more interesting is people's choices of WHO they crush upon and why.

Joining Keely, The Un-Mom, here are some of my random thoughts on crushes:

While most people (men and women) have crushes on hotties like Brad Pitt, he does nothing for me. Okay, almost nothing.

I tend to fall for really intelligent men who can also be a smartellic.

Take William F Buckley, Jr. I fell for him in college...here is is holding a book and all, but look at that expression.

I used to love his show when he would rip some poor fool apart with his knowledge on a particular subject. This is the look he would make right before the kill:

He really had great body language. Agreeing with a lot of what he said moved the crush along quite nicely.

I always wanted to be the lady that walked into his office and say something brilliant, offer my hand and then walk away.

How weird is that?

My two new crushes, you guessed it: David Brooks and Paul Krugman.

Don't you think David looks like that adorable actor in The Christmas Story movie?

Every time I see him the TV I think about their similarities. Take a look:

So cute. He even has that same little chuckle and they are always up to something. But I think he's at his cutest when he's serious and nailing an argument. and he knows it.

This is the look I love:

Finally, and admittedly, this is a little off-the-wall, but I noticed that when Paul Krugman gets all smarty-pants on the air, his ears start to curve out a little. Go see for yourself, he's on every channel as the one person who is challenging little Timmy's plans. The media are having field day with him, but I find him adorable. And I don't ever like beards.

Watch the ears......

And Paul, I double dare you to shave the beard.