Emblem (038/365)

TIME: 4:26 pm
PLACE: Driveway
SUBJECT: VW emblem

*~*~*

The VW emblem of MBs car is reflecting the bare trees and me....I'm the little flat squishy image on the bottom of the silver circle.

Throwback Thursday (032/365)

TIME: 1974 or 1975?
PLACE: Backyard of childhood home
SUBJECT: L-R, Toto, Me, Michael, John

I think I’m 7 or 8 in this picture.

Nice rear end shot of Toto – our wire-haired fox terrier.

My brothers, acting so cool.  Pretending to throw a snowball (at my mom? Probably, Dad was more than likely at work)

I remember that shirt John is wearing.  I think it was a hand-me-down from oldest brother Michael.  Pretty edgy.

There I am…in patterned pants, patterned-trimmed coat and patchwork hat.  It looks like I’m holding hands with the snowman.

I would love to have that hat again – it’s pretty cool.

Family Day (024/365)

TIME: 10:02 AM
PLACE: Hilton Field, Fort Jackson
SUBJECT: 3-39 Infantry

Finally Family Day!

I got a bit emotional during this – it was pretty awesome to see.

(We did not take this picture – A photographer at Fort Jackson snapped this and posted on their Facebook page.)

I love this photo. 

I am so proud of my boy.

Right after we went to get a bite to eat – Non-army food!  Chicken wings, hamburgers, french fries etc.  We visited the PXs and got ice cream and cookies.

We also saw a movie – “The Greatest Showman” with Hugh Jackman.  None of us, except for SD, knew it was a musical.  Surprisingly, the guys liked it!

Then we went to the BCT Museum.

With StellaDella.

We ate pizza from Pizza Hut and then went to the bowling alley for a bit.

Played the arcade games. I beat MB at air hockey, 7 to 5.

I was very sad when we had to take him back to the barracks.

Elvis & Me (008/365)

TIME: 05 Aug 1990
PLACE: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
SUBJECT: Me, Elvis

Happy birthday Elvis!

I need to visit you again.

Sunday Funday (028/365)

TIME: 11:59 AM
PLACE: Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT: Alley art

DQ has a part-time job at a store on Cherokee Antique Row in St. Louis and invited me and SD to their Annual Cookie Spree. 

So we did.

I may or may not have had some Riesling and a nip of Sherry along with said cookies prior to 11am.

Santa’s not telling.

SD had her portrait done.

She and I had our picture taken with the man on the moon too!

~*~*~*~

TIME: 5:46 PM
PLACE: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
SUBJECT: SD, DQ and Mulder

In the evening we attended the Tails, Trails and Twinkles at the Shrine. 

We walked Mulder through the lights with many other dogs.  At the end there was a pet blessing. 

Which was good, because he needs all the help he can get!

I was a little worried about him, but he was a pretty good boy.  He was a little excited at times, but behaved otherwise.

Throwback Thursday (274/365)

“Sorority Picture!”

DATE: April 1, 1995
PLACE: B-Street Bar
SUBJECT: My cousin and me

One of my favorite photos from my wedding day (besides the ones with my husband of course)
My cousin and best friend and me doing our “Sorority Picture!” pose.
Neither of us were ever in a sorority.
But, while I was going to school at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, she came for a visit.
We went to a fraternity party and we noticed that all of the sorority girls posed like this in
every.
single.
picture.
Beer glass/cup/bottle prominently displayed.
Mouth wide open.
Bent at the knees.
Heads together.
Always having an a-mazing time.
So, yeah.
We always take a “Sorority Picture” when we go out now.

Vacation Day #5 (225/365)

TIME: 11:29 AM
PLACE: Destin, FL
SUBJECT: James, Stella & Me – Parasailing

As part of our condo rental package, we received one complementary parasail each day of our vacation.
I was thrilled. 
I am very cheap thrifty, and this way I was only going to have to pay for one child!
(Claudia wanted to keep her feet on the ground)
Then I read the fine print….
You had to be 18 to use the freebie.
 
 
And that’s how I ended up sailing over the Gulf of Mexico.
What amazed me was how quiet it was up there.

We asked to be dipped at the end.

I’m glad I did it.
It was awesome!

Throwback Thursday (141/365)

TIME: 5/20/2007 11:57 AM
PLACE:  School picnic
SUBJECT:  Claudia, Me, Stella & James

Eight years ago, the four of us attended the school picnic.
Claudia was 9 (and 1/2).
James was (almost) 8.
Stella was 3.
I just turned 40.
We all rode the slide.

James won.

Throwback Thursday (127/365)

“Looks who's talking 'Denim Dan'! You look like the President and CEO of Levi-Strauss!”
Super Troopers, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2001

TIME: 1992
PLACE:  My cousin’s basement
SUBJECT:  HH and me

This was taken at a going-away party for my cousin, Kathleen, who was moving to Iowa to manage a Camelot Music store.
I am wearing what I believe is called a “Canadian Tuxedo”
My earrings were purchased by my mother at an estate sale…at the home of my late kindergarten teacher.  I called them my “Miss June” earrings.
HH is wearing a sweatshirt I bought him when I was in Houston Texas for two weeks auditing 2 credit unions.
You can’t see his legs because they are camouflaged.

Throwback Thursday (120/365)

“Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time.”
Jean Paul Richter (German Novelist and humorist, 1763-1825)

TIME: April 1968
PLACE:  My parent’s kitchen
SUBJECT: My first birthday

My grandfather, Michael Caponi Sr. is standing in the doorway.
My cousin, Bobby is wearing the plaid shirt.
Standing on the other side is his older sister, my cousin Cindy.
I think that’s my cousin Lisa, facing away from the camera.
The best part of the picture?
My mom is cradling my head in her hand.

I Whisk I Was Younger (119/365)

TIME: 7:23 PM
PLACE:  10th St. Bakery
SUBJECT:  Light

Another year.
Another birthday.
I am now 8 and 40.
(it sounds better that way)

We had sushi for supper and stopped for ice cream.


A mother-daughter selfie.

We then went to 10th St. Bakery for a drink and birthday donuts.
What more could I want?

Bees (080/365)

“Life is a mosaic of pleasure and pain - grief is an interval between two moments of joy. Peace is the interlude between two wars. You have no rose without a thorn; the diligent picker will avoid the pricks and gather the flower. There is no bee without the sting; cleverness consists in gathering the honey nevertheless.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian Spiritual leader, b.1926)

TIME:  3:57 PM
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT:  HandsomeHusband and the bees

HH worked on his hives this afternoon.

The bees were eating their winter honey.

They were a bit cranky today.
I was too.
Today was the 10-year anniversary of my mom’s passing.

My daughter posted this on her Facebook page this morning..


I think my mom would be proud of her.
I know I am.

Stella Is 11! (041/365)

TIME:  Over the last 11 years
PLACE:  All over
SUBJECT: StellaDella

It seems like just yesterday, we could carry her everywhere


My little Strawberry Shortcake….


With hair that shines as bright as her eyes and her heart…


I love doing things with her – her perspective on the world is wise beyond her years…


Her empathy for others and desire to help in anyway she can makes me so proud…

She is beautiful inside and out.
I love, love my little red-headed girl.

Happy Birthday Stella!

Throwback Thursday (015/365)

“At every party there are two kinds of people — those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.”
Esther Pauline Friedman aka Ann Landers (American, Personal Advice Columnist and Author, 1918-2002)

TIME:  Shortly after midnight, 01 Jan 1991
PLACE:  B-Street Bar
SUBJECT:  HandsomeHusband and Me

Fun Fact : I may or may not be slightly inebriated in this photo.

Forced Family Fun

TIME:  6:38 PM
PLACE: Six Flags, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  The family

As has been tradition these past few years, the kids and I went to Six Flags on the Fourth of July.  There was bickering between the siblings and DramaQueen was not on board with my order that we take a selfie of the four of us…and we all better look like we are having a good time and like each other dammit! 

She held the camera, snarled, “Everybody smile!”, put on a happy face and took the photo. Frowns and fighting re-appeared immediately after the picture was snapped.

At least it *looks* like we are happy – right?

Father’s Day (167/365)

TIME:  1946 to 1973
PLACE: Various
SUBJECT:  Dad (& me!)

Smoking, drinking and hanging out with the dancers…that’s my dad.  Always good lookin’ too!


TIME:  5:50 PM
PLACE:  Sushi bar
SUBJECT:  HandsomeHusband & StellaDella

This guy’s a pretty good dad too. ;)

Friday Night at Fridays (011/366)

TIME:  10:55pm to 11:43pm
PLACE:  Fridays
SUBJECT:  The bunch, signs, and bottles

I went out and met up with the old group at a local tavern this evening.  Back in the day (1989 until about 1995), the four of us would all go out at least one of the weekend nights (if not both) and maybe even a Tuesday night at quarter beers.  We were much younger then.  And single.  And child-free.  Fridays was one of the bars we would patronize.

And just for the record?  I only had 3 of those beers and one Kamikaze shot (equal parts vodka, triple sec and sweet and sour mix). 

Then I drank soda.

We Ran For Our Lives (232/366)

TIME:  10:32 AM
PLACE:  Wright City, Missouri
SUBJECT:  Me, the sister, and DramaQueen

My sister, DQ and I participated in the Run For Your Lives St. Louis today.   None of us “survived” the 5k – all of our flags were taken by the zombies.  I almost made it…until a zombie grabbed it right at the end.  Stupid zombie.

I took all these photos after our run.  Here is the start – we were released like cattle out of a chute.  The course ran through the woods and fields.  Zombies were mainly in the fields the first 2 miles, but the last mile of the course had a larger number of them in the woods and between the final obstacles at the end of the course.  My sister found out that it was every gal for herself when she fell trying to get away from a zombie in the first field.  Sorry sis.


This was one of the obstacles.  My flag was taken just before I climbed up the ladder for the slide into a pool of muddy water.


Then we had to dodge zombies before getting to the next to last obstacle.

Then, after eluding more zombies, we had to crawl through these muddy tunnels.  I had the giggles when I was crawling through the tunnel.

The finish had us crawl on our bellies under an electric fence.


My tennis shoes got a bit muddy.


They had showers for us to rinse off, but the line was long and we had to get home.  We sat on blankets and towels in the car.  I hosed off in the driveway before I went inside and took a shower.