Christmas Reminds Me To Be Grateful

It was a wonderful Christmas and I found myself being grateful. I wanted to record these things before my mind forgets :) 

Today we had everyone over for Christmas dinner. I was telling my friend that Lee picked up the groceries for Christmas Day and I did Christmas Eve. She said she wouldn’t want to make two lists. I explained to her that I didn’t give Lee a list or ask him to go to the store. He went to the store and picked up everything we needed without being asked. He did the same thing for Thanksgiving. The other women that were at our house had so many questions on how “I got him to do this.” Lee is my partner in life and he always does his share of the work without me asking. He knows what we need because he has eaten the holiday food for years (with the exception of Christmas Eve food which we just started when we purchased this house).  I know what these women mean about their husbands not pitching in because my father was that way. I think this has more to do with Lee’s upbringing than me. Lee was raised by parents who both taught their sons to do their part in their home – every night the sons were in charge of clearing the table and cleaning the dishes. If Lee has been to your house, you will see that he is champion dish washer. We have a dishwasher, but I rarely use it because Lee prefers to wash the dishes.  This Christmas I am grateful to Lee’s parents for raising him to be a wonderful person. 

Days before Christmas, I met up with a friend for a coffee. We were talking about Christmas songs. Her favorite is the Little Drummer Boy. She explained that it was her favorite because she could imagine the wonderful sight of Our Lord’s Birth with all of the animals gathered around the manager keeping time with the drummer’s drum. And for days I couldn’t stop thinking about the glorious sight that must have been seen the night the Lord was born. I am thankful for friends who vividly see the world and strengthen my faith. Merry Christmas!

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Breeanna Speicher – Generation Cryo

I caught the season finale of Breeanna Speicher from Generation Cryo as I was cleaning up after the kids cookie making party.  Weird show.

Breeanna Speicher’s and her siblings have wonderful families who really wanted them. Breeanna’s mother declared her love for her daughter tonight – I don’t what happened in the earlier episodes, but this mother poured out her heart to Breeanna. What else could the kid need?  

I think all these kids are going to be disappointed that their real father isn’t a superhero – just a regular guy.

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Super Sweet

I love Winter Break. Besides relaxing and getting things done,  I always hear from old students. Some of my students are college grads and starting their own lives. Yet, they take a few minutes to send me a life update and pictures!

One of my old students became a father 4 days ago. I smile at the pictures that appear on the screen (but feel so old too). I was just a baby myself when I was his teacher.

Another student sent me a picture of him and his new fiance – such a beautiful couple.

Thanks God for these sweet moments and kind people who still share glimpses of their life. I love seeing how well they are doing in the world.

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Restaurants Open Christmas Day in Bay Ridge

“What restaurants are open on Christmas Day in Bay Ridge?” was a question I recently received. Ithought it would be good to share here as well as what restaurants are open on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day in Bay Ridge. 

*If you are a restaurant that wants to be added – just leave me a message.

Christmas Eve

Greenhouse Cafe  menu  and more info

Vesuvio’s Christmas Eve Menu

Yellowhook Restaurant closes at 5pm – the bar is still open though

Longbow closes at 7PM see menu

Uncle Jimmys Barbecue is open until 9PM

Szechuan Garden has delicious Chinese food, but your favorite take out food is probably open too!

I think Embers may be open

In Manhattan – cool Christmas Eve Cruise

Christmas Day 

Vicolo’s has Christmas Diner (regular site)

Fushimi (sushi) opens at 3pm see here

The Pearl Room has Christmas Dinner (click to see menu)

Restaurants in Manhattan Open on Christmas Day

Ginos is closed, Longbow is Closed, Vesuvio’s is closed, Tanoreen is closed. Uncle Jimmy’s Barbecue closed.

New Year’s Eve 

Yellow Hook New Year’s Eve Party $100 a person info here

Vesuvio’s has a New Year’s Eve Dinner

Tanoreen last seating 7pm

Fushimi (sushi) is open 

The Pearl Room – see menu

Last year the following places were open:

• Wicked Monk 95th and 3rd Avenue – Dinner from 4:30 – 8:30 –
• The Salty Dog Dinner reservations for groups of 5+ call 718-238-0030.
• Balloon Drop and ginger ale toast for families at Pizzeria Uno – 7pm 
  
• Lonestar Sports Bar 
• Delia’s Lounge
• Pour House i
• Bean Post
• Dinner at Cebu – 88th and 3rd – Make Reservations Online

New Years Day

The Pearl Room see menu

Vicolo’s   See their main page

Fushimi (sushi)

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Life and A Lot

I love the graphic above. Yet alot is not a word and it drives me nuts when I see it isn’t two words.

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if

…..

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Marty Golden’s Holiday Card 2013 – Very Telling

See the interesting story in the paper about Mr. Golden. 

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Currently….

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Why My Life Is Good….

I made plans to shop with a friend of mine this morning. Coffee was purchased, the sitter came for all the kids and we were ready to go. 

Lee was working on an emergency and he called me. He said, “Can you wait at the house, I am almost home.”  I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to be home as everything was taken care of.  He pulls up and hops out of his vehicle. Lee told me that he wanted us to take his truck because of the snow. Yep, he drove home just to give me his car. I drive a Sedan and it doesn’t have the height or tire traction that his car does. 

My friend and I shopped like crazy – we got almost everything because we really planned out the shopping and the mall. On the way home, we hear a rock hit the windshield and about 20 minutes later the windshield starts cracking. So the love of my life gave me his trusty vehicle and I am bringing it home with a cracked windshield. I feel terrible as I pull up to the house. 

Lee comes out of the house, tells me stuff like this happens and we call the windshield repair peeps. The guy tells me if we called an hour earlier he would have been able to fix it today, but he will have it done by tomorrow morning. 

YEAH!

I do recognize that we could have been hurt today by the rock that hit the windshield – so thank God for the easy afternoon and allowing us to only have to bring the car in for a quick fix. Also thanks to the great windshield repair place for being such a cool and laid back guy.

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My Life in Movies Tag

I usually don’t do tag posts, but this one is awesome because I love movies.

First movie I saw in the movie theater: Snow White (I think I was 5)

First non-animated movie I saw in a theater:  ET is animated right? So……. A Christmas Story

Movies I can quote every single line of dialogue/sound effects to:  Footloose, Sixteen Candles. The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – (anything by John Hughes)

Best Movie Genre: Horror (the scarier – the better), Sci-Fi,  Detective Movies, Indy Movies and even Oldies

Great Geek Movies: War Games

First Scary Movie Ever Seen: Jaws and then the Freddy Kruger series. I had nightmares for months from both, but didn’t tell anyone because they won’t let me watch any more scary movies.

Scariest Movie of All Time: Poltergeist (kids in horror movies always creep me out) and The Sixth Sense (same reason)

First Date Movie: Jurassic Park (great movie and great relationship……wonder if one had to do with the other)

Movies I Saw that I Didn’t Think I Would Like and Absolutely Loved: Star Trek,  The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Movies which got rave reviews and I couldn’t understand why: Joy Luck Club, Like Water for Chocolate

Movie that Lee Couldn’t Believe I had never seen: Rocky Horror Picture Show

Movie that I Didn’t See Until Years After It Came Out: Kill Bill (good movie), The Taking of Pelham 123 (original)

Movies Lee Loves but I Don’t : Anything with Laurel and Hardy, Most movies with Nicholas Cage, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

Movie that Lee Would Not Admit to Seeing in the Theater with me: Sex in the City

Movie I Would Not Admit to Seeing Until Now: Jack and Jill with Adam Sandler – anything with Adam Sandler

Movies I will sit down and watch every time they’re on TV regardless of how many times I’ve seen them/how good or bad they are:

• The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan – I have no idea why
• Groundhog’s Day – it’s just a strange movie
• Footloose – love Kevin Bacon & Kenny Loggins music
• Home Alone 1
• A Christmas Story – every Christmas

Worse Movie Ever Seen: Big Fish (it’s not a bad movie, but it hit too close to home – I cried throughout the movie – Poor Lee)

2nd place: Gravity – I saw this recently in the theater and felt uncomfortable because the main character (played by Sandra Bullock) had trouble breathing due to outer space    atmosphere (I love Sandra Bullet though)

Last movie I saw in the theater:  Gravity

Last movie I saw on DVD:   White House Down – good movie

Best movie I ever saw in a theater: Pan’s Labyrinth – amazing!

Next movie I plan to see in the theater: The Hunger Games Catching Fire – I am seeing it with my students this week

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Santa in Bay Ridge or the Surrounding Area

The original Santa at Macys in Herald Square is awesome, but sometimes a neighborhood Santa is needed, especially if you are trying to get your child used to Santa so you can take great pictures! 

12/1 – Breakfast with Santa – St. Patrick’s Church

12/2 – Caroling at Kettle Black 11:30 AM

12/2 – Monday Night – Owls Head Tree Lighting 68th Street and Colonial Road (More info here) – Santa will be here

12/4 – Wednesday night at 6:30 PM – Shore Road Christmas Tree Lighting at the Gazebo on 90th and Shore Road (Rain Day December 5th) – Toys and Santa, as well as music will be played by several school bands! (for more info)

12/8 – St. Ephrem’s Holiday Boutique – Sunday, December 8th – 11 AM to 5 PM (Santa will be there – bring your camera)

12/12 – McKinley Park Tree Lighting – 6:30 PM – Santa will be there. (info here)

12/14 and 12/15 – Saint Anselm Winter Wonderland – Shopping, Santa and a Christmas Play for $5.00 – bring your camera to take pics with Santa

Santa will be at Brooklyn Terminal Market in Canarsie on December 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd. See the schedule here

Malls

• Kings Plaza
• Staten Island Mall (near JC Penny – lower level) have Santa Claus
• Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan – go very early when they first open to avoid the crowds. This is the most real lo0king Santa. There are three there at one time.

TV GUIDE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS

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Christmas Trees in Bay Ridge

Everyone is looking for fresh wreaths and trees. In Bay Ridge there is: 

• 93rd Street and 3rd Avenue – Outside of Rite Aid – they are good. Large trees are around $80 – Open all night
• Ovington and 7th Avenue – Garden Shop

Just outside the neighborhood:

• 65th and 4th Avenue – under the highway – lower prices – trees last
• Knights of Columbus in Dyker Heights – 86th Street and 14th Avenue -large selection and more items inside. My friend swears they have the freshest trees – I don’t know if that is true because we don’t get ours there. 
• David Shannon Florist – 33rd Street and Fort Hamilton – This is a Mom and Pop shop – the Perrottas own it and they are awesome! I’ve been going there for years because it’s easy to park and the people are nice. When I buy a plant from them, it never dies and if I ask advice, the owners are always willing to help. So it’s a bit out of the way, but it’s a good place. 
• Home Depot – Large trees for around $40 – $50
• Brooklyn terminal markets – Canarsie – this is where all the vendors get them from

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