Sunday, November 28, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

As usual the holidays always sneak up on me.  Without working you would think I would have time to be more prepared but not so.  This year, as in others, our family is estranged so I had to do Thanksgiving in shifts.  I so miss the times when we have all been together.  It is a very stressful time for me but I always manage to muddle through. 

Dinner is very traditional.  I think I have been cooking the exact same dishes for 30 years and if I ever even thought of changing anything I would have a lynching mob on my hands!  Of course there is the monsterous turkey I have to get in the oven at 6:30 in the morning.  Despite what the experts recommend I still stuff the bird prior to cooking (of course with the traditional Pepperidge Farm stuffing).  I haven't killed anyone yet!  Then there are the mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, white mashed potatoes and string beans almondine.    Can't forget the cranberry sauce and rolls.  My mom always make the pumpkin pies.  This year she misread the instructions and put in 1/2 cup less sugar than the recipe called for.  They were still good but admitedly not very sweet.  She is 90 years old so we are so blessed that she is even still with us for the holidays, let alone bringing desert. 

I was really bad and didn't take one picture this year.  Here is a clip of the kids singing grace last year and they repeated it for us again this year.  Priceless.



Now, let the Christmas rush begin!  I am making the first batch of Chex Party Mix today.  The best part of that is the smell when it is cooking.  I have made quite a few presents this year and will take pictures and post them after they have been received.  I love having the extra time to do that.  I have been shopping on my favorite on-line bargain websites since January and have a closet full of gifts.  Woot.com and 1saleaday.com are my favorites.  I have a number of things order from various places and love seeing UPS truck pull up to the driveway a few times a week.  I had a couple of bad falls just before Thanksgiving and am still bruised and sore so shopping on-line will be perfect for me this year.  My theory is if you can't get it on Amazon.com you don't need it!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Record Collection

Rich and I have been cleaning out closets this week, ugh!  I came accross two boxes of my prized 45RPM records from the 1960's.  I have always wanted to catalog them and since I now have plenty of time I did that this week.  Anyone of my vintage (and you know who you are) will probably get flashbacks just reading my list.  Creating the list brought back a lot of memories for me.  I know I could purchase a USB turntable to save them to the computer but that is way too much work!  Instead I will be using the list to purchase the ones I don't already have on my IPod and IPhone from ITunes.  Love my toys and can't wait to get some new tunes.  I have also cataloged our 8-Track tapes and cassettes (yes, I tend to keep everything).  The next project is to do the same with our record albums.  Below is my list of 45's.  I hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane as much as I did.


ARTISTSIDE 1
? (Question Mark) & the Mysterians96 Tears
4 + 4, TheYou're Gonna Shout Hallelujah
4 Seasons, TheOpus 17
4 Seasons, TheBye Bye Baby
4 Seasons, TheLets Hang On
4 Seasons, TheSherry
Association, The Windy
B. Bumble and the StingersNut Rocker
Barry  and The TamerlanesI Wonder What She's Doing Tonight
Beach Boys, The Barbara Ann
Beach Boys, The Wild Honey
Beach Boys, The Help Me, Rhonda
Beatles, The Please Mr. Postman
Beatles, The Can't Buy Me Love
Beatles, The Nowhere Man
Beatles, The Day Tripper
Beatles, The I Want to Hold Your Hand
Beatles, The Twist and Shout
Beatles, The She Loves You
Belmonts, TheCom on Little Angel
Ben E. KingDon't Play that Song
Betty EverettThe Shoop Shoop Song
Billy J. KramerBad to Me
Billy StewartTo Love to Love
Billy VaughnMichelle
Bob Crew Generation, TheMusic to Watch Girls Go By
Bobby RydellSway
Bobby VintonI Love How You Love Me.
Brotherhood of Man, TheUnited We Stand
Buckinghams, The Kind of a Drag
Byrds, The Turn Turn Turn
Cannibal and the HeadhuntersLand of 1000 Dances
Cascades, TheRhythmn of the Rain
Castaways, The Liar Liar
CherYou Better Sit Down Kids
CherBang Bang
Chubby CheckerThe Twist
Chubby CheckerLimbo Rock
Chubby CheckerDancin' Party
Claude KingWolverton Mountain
Claudine ClarkParty Lights
Clovers, TheDevil or Angel
Connie FrancisA Nurse in the US Army (special promotion)
Connie FrancisVacation
Cookies,The Girls Grow Up Faster than Boys
Crazy World of Arthur Brown, The Fire
Crystals, TheHe's a Rebel
Cyrkle, The Turn Down Day
Dave Clark Five, TheDo You Love Me
Dave Clark Five, TheEverybody Knows (I Still Love You)
Dee Dee SharpMashed Potato Time
Del ShannonRunaway
Del ShannonHat's Off to Larry
Del ShannonDo You Want to Dance
Del ShannonKeep Searchin
Dickey LeeI Saw Linda Yesterday
DionRunaround Sue
DionDiane
DionLovers Who Wander
DionLonely Teenager
DionThe Wanderer
Dixie Cups, The You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me
Dixiebelles, The(Down At) Papa Joe's
Drifters, The Up On The Roof
Duprees, The You Belong to Me
Earls, TheRemember Then
Edith PiafMilord
Essex, TheEasier Said than Done
Exciters, The Trell Him
First Edition, TheJust Dropped In (To See What Condition my Condition Was In)
Five Americans, TheWestern Union
Five Satins, TheIn The Still Of The Night
Five Satins, TheIn The Still Of The Night
Four Jacks and a JillMaster Jack
Four TopsStanding In the Shadows of Love
Freda PayneBand of Gold
Freddie and the DreamersI'm Telling You Now
Gary Lewis & The PlayboysSure Gonna' Miss Her
Gary Lewis & The PlayboysThis Diamond Ring
Georgie FameThe Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
Herman's HermitsListen People
Herman's HermitsSilhouettes
Herman's HermitsMrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter
Herman's HermitsA Must to Avoid
Herman's HermitsI'm Into Something Good
Herman's HermitsCan't You Hear My Heartbeat
Herman's HermitsThe Rain, The Park & Other Things
Highwaymen, The Michael
Hollies, TheCarrie-Annhe
Hondells, The Little Honda
Hugo MontenegroThe Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Isley BrothersThis Old Heart of Mine
Jan & DeanSidewalk Surfin'
Jan & DeanSurf City
Jan & DeanDead Man's Curve
Janis IanSociety's Child
Jefferson AirplaneSomebody to Love
Jimmy DeanPT109
Joey DeeShout Part I
Johnny RiversSummer Rain
KeithPretty Little Shy One
Kingsmen, TheThe Jolly Green Giant
Left Banke, The Walk Away Rene
Les Cooper & The Soul RockersWiggle Wobble
Leslie GoreIt's My Party
Leslie GoreShe's A Fool
Leslie GoreMaybe I Know
Little Anthony and the ImperialsHurt So Bad
Little EvaThe Loco-Motion
Little Peggy MarchI Will Follow Him
Lovin' Spoonful, TheRain on the Roof
Lovin' Spoonful, TheDaydream
Lovin' Spoonful, TheNashville Cats
Lovin' Spoonful, TheSummer in the City
LuluTo Sir With Love
Mama's and Papa's, The California Dreamin'
Mama's and Papa's, The Dedicated to the One I Love
Mama's and Papa's, The Dancing in the Street
Mama's and Papa's, The Monday Monday
Mark DinningTeen Angel
Marvellettes, The Playboy
Marvellettes, The Too Many Fish in the Sea
Mary HopkinThose Were the Days
McCoys, The Fever
McCoys, The Hang On Sloopy
MelanieLay Down (Candles in the Rain)
Millie SmallMy Boy Lollipop
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit WheelsSock It To Me - Baby
Monkees, The (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
Moody Blues, The Stop
Moody Blues, The Go Now
Mr. Acker BilkStranger on the Shore
Music Explosion, TheLittle Bit O'Soul
Nathaniel MayerVilliage of Love
Orlons, The South Street
Parliaments, The(I Wanna) Testify
Patty DukeDon't Just Stand There
Paul & PaulaHey Paula
Paul MauriatLove is Blue
Paul Revere & The RaidersKicks
Peter, Paul and MaryI Dig Rock and Roll Music
Reflections, The(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet
Reparata and the DelronsWhenever a Teenager Cries
Righteous Brothers, The You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin
Rip Chords, The Hey Little Cobra
Roger MilleEngland Swings
Rolling Stones, The Paint it Black
Rolling Stones, The Get Off My Cloud
Rolling Stones, The As Tears go By
Ronettes, The Walking in the Rain
Ronny & The DaytonasGTO
Rosie and the OriginalsAngel Baby
Royal Guardsmen, TheSnoopy Vs. The Red Baron
Safaris, The Wipe Out
Sandy CarneyCarolyn
Searchers, The Love Potion Number Nine
Seekers, The I'll Never Find Another You
Shangri-Las, The Leader of the Pack
Shangri-Las, The Give Him a Great Big Kiss
Shangri-Las, The Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)
Shangri-Las, The I Can Never Go Home Anymore
Shelley FabaresJohnny Angel
Shirelles, TheSoldier Boy
Simon & GarfunkelThe Sounds of Silence
Simon & GarfunkelI Am A Rock
Simon & GarfunkelHomeward Bound
Skeeter DavisThe End of the World
Smokey Robinson and the MirackesI Second that Emotion
Spanky And Our GangSunday Will Never be the Same
Stone Poneys, The Different Drum
Sulkie, The You're Got To Hide Your Love Away
Supremes, The The Happening
Supremes, The Where Did Our Love Go
Tokens, The Portrait of My Love
Tommy James and the ShondellsI Think We're Alone Now
Tommy RoeSheila
Troggs, The Wild Thing
Turtles, The She's My Girl
Turtles, The Happy Together
Union Gap, The Woman Woman
Voice of Scott McKenzie, TheLike An Old Time Movie
Young Rascals, The I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore
Young Rascals, The How Can I Be Sure
Young Rascals, The I've Been Lonely Too Long
Young Rascals, The You Better Run
Zombies, TheShe's Not There