Rockettes, Disney Characters & Snow Storms! Oh My!

                                                         

 

I don’t get to spend enough time in New York City, but that will change this spring when I plan to spend a whole weekend sightseeing with my daughter, granddaughter and travel buddy, Tracy. This December 15^th, the four of us had traveled by Starr Tours Bus to see the famed Radio City Rockettes. Were the Rockettes as awesome as promised? Meet me after the jump to find out

The Trip

Tracy and I had become good friends during my first trip to Italy where I signed up for the Leisurely Tuscany Tour. Tracy had mentioned that she’d always wanted to see the Rockettes and to think of her if I decided to go. After my grandson who’d finished his five year service with Marines and his wife, Kimberlea, moved back to New Jersey, I had the perfect reason to travel to New York. We booked our trip with Starr so we knew that everything for this adventure was taken care of.

                                                           

As soon as we reached the city, the bus driver handed out maps and a list of restaurants to visit before the show began. On our way to find Planet Hollywood, we came across some Disney Characters who offered to take photos with us. Stupid us thought that they were provided by the city, but after taking a few photos of us with Kimberlea’s cell phone, they began to ask for tips. My daughter gave the main spokesperson five dollars, but they wanted more. Our South Philly attitude is no match for New York con games...and the characters backed off.

                                                         

The sights and sounds of the busy Times Square area were truly exhilarating. I freaking loved the hustle and bustle of shoppers and workers as they made their way to their destinations. At Planet Hollywood, we had fun checking out all the memorabilia while we waited for our food. I would definitely return to this restaurant for the ambiance and the tasty food.

The Rockettes

I can’t say enough great things about the show. The staff and security made sure the lines getting into the theatre were organized and moving steadily. The dancers were fabulous, especially performing one of my favorite routines with the wooden soldiers. There was even 3D segment at the beginning of the show. If you haven’t treated yourself to this event, please do so.

                                                             

When we left the theatre we were faced with a full-fledged snowstorm. Luckily we were able to warm up with some hot chocolate at Starbucks. Our bus ride home was longer than expected due to the nasty weather and unbelievable traffic. I will never complain about Philly traffic again.

Conclusion

I’m a big kid at heart and I love to escape the stress from this past year’s election. Traveling to the Big Apple with family and friend, and our seeing Times Square up close and personal was a real treat as was the Radio City Rockettes.

                                                                   

There is one final note on those Disney photo hounds. They are everywhere and, it’s up to you to say no, then quickly run away.

 

Steampunk Granny's Christmas Scavenger Hunt

                                                               

Did you expect a normal Christmas from someone who calls herself Steampunk Granny? If your reply is, “NO,” then my little zombie snack you are in the right place.  I wanted the act of gift giving and receiving at my yearly “Italian Christmas Eve Eat until  You Drop” event to be more...I don’t know....meaningful?

                                                                     

I did all in my power to get the gifts that my grandkids had requested and there were plenty of Black Fridays mornings that found me standing outside of a Target store or a Toys R Us store at all ungodly hours just so I could arm wrestle my way into the store and grab hold of a stinking dancing Elmo doll.  What we grandmothers do in the name of love. But it was worth the bruises both physical and financially to see the little cherubs smile. Then they grew up!

                                                                 

                                     

Teenagers are hard to buy for! My style in clothing is either too bizarre or too conservative depending on which grandchild you’re speaking to. “Give me gift cards” was the unanimous cry from all nine grandchildren. Big sigh!!! There isn’t much you can do with a gift card, or was there?

                                                                     

I began a tradition a few years back to make the gift giving a challenge. I would place the gift cards in puzzle boxes. In order to get to that gift card, my grandchildren had to work at solving the puzzle that would allow them to the treasure. It was a big hit and, each year starting with Thanksgiving, my grandkids would pester me with questions about the type of puzzle they would get.

I was on a roll, but after a few years of searching for new and different puzzle boxes, I finally hit a brick wall. There are only so many different types of puzzle boxes in existence. What was I going to do this year?

                                                                

I did mention that we don’t do normal at my house, right? Luckily, I came up with a Christmas Scavenger Hunt to take the place of the puzzle boxes. My oldest male grandson (THE MARINE) was coming home for the holidays and when I told him about the scavenger hunt, he said, “I don’t think so.”

                                                                 

My eldest female granddaughter (The Fashion Designer) said, “NO Way!!!”

After dinner and after everyone opened their gifts, I handed Allie the first clue. “It’s pouring outside,” moaned all seven grandkids in unison.

                                                                 

“If you want your gifts...”

They had a ball and even the two older grandkids were having fun. To get their last clue, my crew had to serenade my neighbor with Christmas songs. I guess they did a good job because she gave them the final clue.

                                                             

The scavenger hunt was such a big hit, I might do it again next year...but...where should I hide the clues?

                                                                   

Steampunk Granny and her gang wish you a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful New Year

                                                                   

Bazaars at the Audubon Treehouse

                                                      

                                                           

This past Tuesday was the last night of the Treehouse Coffee Shop’s Christmas Bazaar and I was there to check out that night’s venders.  There will be more bazaars coming up at New Jersey’s favorite little coffee shop in Audubon. I’ll be doing my Steampunk Granny’s Bohemian Bazaar in April and Tina and Randy have a date set for a springtime bazaar and maybe a summer bazaar, too.

We need to support the independent vendors and bring back shopping trips to our towns!!

Last night Tina and her boys hosted these venders:

                                                         

 

Sheryl Price who is an Esthetician has her shop, Sheryl’s Skin Therapy Studio on Merchant Street in Audubon.  Here is her site: www.sherylsskintherapy.com  I will be interviewing Sheryl Price in the upcoming weeks to find out more about her studio

                                                                 

Sandy Johnson with her one of a kind home décor called Second-Time-Around Mosaics can be reached at tagteacher50@hotmail.com

                                                                  

Robert G. Amadio was also there with his wood creations and he can be reached at robertgamadio@gmail.com 

                                                                    

 

Shelley Szajner, spiritual advisor, artist and author was there to sell her displaying her spiritual art and doing Tarot readings.

                                                                      

 

Shelley’s mission is life is to illuminate the language of the soul and disperse seeds of wisdom. Check her out on her site www.shelleyszajner.com  I will be interviewing Shelley in the upcoming weeks for a list of her upcoming classes.

                                                                  

My editor/friend and soul sister, Patti O’Brien made me one of her bottles of LitBits

                                                                        

and she even put candy inside to help me when I’m overwhelmed. Her personal blog is: http://pattiobrien.wordpress.com/  and her editing site is: http://www.editingiseverything.com/

                                                                   

                                                            

Well, I’m done my shopping for the holidays, but there are more holidays coming up and more chances to buy from these venders!!!! Check them out!

Gilbert's Weird News from the Dark Side 1/10/2014

I've been busy with the holidays and I haven’t done a tales from the Dark Side for a while. There was and is, all kinds of crazy going on in the world; good and bad, and luckily for me, I never run out of material, for example:

Why can’t Santa and Jesus be other than Caucasian?

Why hate the poor?

What is Space X up to? I love these people.

                                                                 Weird News

And now from my favorite source of Weird News, The Huff Post, we have a man claiming that Big Foot ate his pizza.

Not for anything, but I have this problem too; it's called teenage grandsons.


Another story featured on Huff Post concerns a woman's choice of weapon storage

I don't know about you, but...a purse would be my choice of holster. Let's hope she doesn't carry when visiting her Gynecologist.  

And last, but not least, let's end the Weird News with this little gem. Always check the background of the person who is babysitting your child.

The punishment wasn't severe enough for the callous stupidity of this young lady.


Hope you enjoyed this post, my little zombie snacks, and I'll see what I can find for next week. 

The Night before Christmas or How to Survive the Gifts

                The big event every year is the Christmas Eve party at Granny’s house, followed by the New Year’s Eve party given for the grandkids and their friends. The parents are free to party with their friends on New Year’s Eve and the kids, left with me and their grandfather, get to do their own celebration.  There is a plan to this madness, which I’ll go into at the end of the post, but let’s start with Christmas Eve.

                Unfortunately only seven of the grandkids make this event, the other two live in Wyoming, but it sounds like all nine are here and it can get a bit loud. As each family arrives, gifts in hand, I direct them to the basement where the gifts are placed on the pool table. While I try to get the food on the table the youngest follows me around, playing the game “20 questions”.

                “Were you able to find that game I asked for, Granny?”

                “What game?” I reply, trying really hard not to laugh.

                “You know the game for my X Box.”

                “I don’t remember,” I reply, and chuckle to myself as he walks away shaking his head.

                The youngest always gets me in trouble with his Mom, my daughter. While she was on her second honeymoon, I blogged about this, Nathan asked me to get him Gears of War for Christmas. He’s pretty slick for nine. Happy to have an idea on what to get Mr. Finicky, I went shopping. After purchasing the game, I called my daughter and told her what I bought.

                “What did he ask for?”

                “Gears of War,” I reply, quite innocent of the rating system.

                My daughter let out a yelp. “He can’t have that game, it’s X-rated. You have to bring it back.”

                So back I went to the store to return the game. The salesperson was very helpful in showing me the rating system and how it worked, and after I picked out a new game, I called my daughter from the store.

                “My daughter wants to know if this game has any sex, curse words, or bloody decapitations?” I asked the poor salesman.

“No, it’s safe,” he replied. The game passed the “Mom test” and off I went a much wiser granny. 

When it was time to open gifts, we had the youngest go first. Nathan was happy with the Nerf dart shooter, clothing and gift cards, I gave him, but he was looking forward to the final package.

“I got you something a little different,” I said, and waited for his reaction.

Wrapping paper torn away, he gave me a sheepish smile and said, “I really wanted this one.”

I had succeeded in finding a replacement for what was asked, but not right for him. It was a flight simulator, with lots of action, but no blood and guts. I had succeeded in pleasing all seven grandkids, points for granny.

On New Year’s Eve, all the grandkids come over with their newest board games. They’re allowed to bring friends, and everyone brings a sleeping bag. Parents are not allowed to pick them up until the next day around, midafternoon. We spend the night playing board games, eating, playing WII dance, eating, and any game we can make up on the spot. The ages run from nine to twenty three, but they all get along great, and if there is a disagreement, it is settled quickly.

I’m worn out by the time they’re all asleep, but there is a payoff. The next day, after they’re given a good breakfast, they help take down all the Christmas decorations, inside and out. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.   Have a happy, safe, and healthy New Years.

Where can I buy one of those?

      It's been awhile since I posted, busy with Thanksgiving and shopping for Christmas presents. November and December are hectic for me, especially since there are close to twelve of my immediate family members with birthdays within the first two weeks of December. Can everyone say "Birthday Cake Overload".

     Last night as I was running around my house pulling out the Christmas decorations, I overheard a commercial for a wearable blanket called, and I kid you not, the forever lazy blanket. Thinking my husband was watching Saturday Night Live on demand, I walked into the living room to see the people in the commercial wearing these one piece jumpers. Think of the blanket sleepers we put on babies too young to be covered by a regular blanket.

     "This is funny," I remarked to my husband, adding, "Is this one of the SNL phoney commercials?"

     "No, it's a real commercial," he explained.

     "No way," I replied, and then sat down to watch the rest of the commercial.

     Not only was the advertizement saying how comfortable the 'forever lazy' was at home, but people were able to wear these blankets even outside the home. Now call me crazy, but when and where did it become permissable to wear a blanket sleeper as outside clothing?

     The highlight of the commercial was the mention of the specially placed zippers, which enabled the wearer to be able to go to the bathroom. The first thought,which came to mind was the old movies with Ma and Pa Kettle. Pa Kettle wore longjohns similar to the 'forever lazy' and he was also able to unbutton the back of the longjohns to go to the bathroom.

    Are we evolving into a new breed of couch potato? Do we now need special clothing to sit mezmerized in front of the T.V.? And are there other products on the way to compliment the forever lazy blanket?

     I can see it now, products for the 'forever clueless', or maybe the 'forever greedy', I even have an idea for a certain someone, called the 'forever dumb as shit'.

     "You want me to buy you one for Christmas?" my husband teased.

     "Do you want dinner, tonight?" I replied. My message delivered.

     I won't be wearing one of these blanket sleepers, my sweater works fine, thank you, but if someone innocently buys me one, I'll use it, like I did the snuggle blanket, I was given two years ago. They make wonderful tents for the grandkids.