About two weeks ago I realized I was set up for this post- that mama was turning 73, and if I played it just right I could flip my rep at the same time... pretty awesome that I managed it!
I love synchrony, and there's something delightfully synchronous about this!
We'll be celebrating with the whole fam on Saturday, kicking it off with a brunch show performed by my brother at Embark Cider House, then heading to his place for dinner.
But mom definitely does not object to more than one day in her honor, and she deserves it, sweet, cute lady that she is!
If you're eyeing these goodies and wondering where to find them, this is the bakery at Wegmans in Ithaca. Last I heard this Mercedes of all grocery stores had made its way into North Carolina, but the majority of them can still be found in the upstate NY region.
They are not all created equal though, and the Ithaca branch is definitely among the best!
I'm not a "typical" woman, in that I don't particularly enjoy shopping. Not for clothes, not for trinkets, and certainly not for the chore that is groceries. However, Wegmans is my one exception.
From its bakery to its salad, sub and sushi bars, to the many aisles devoted to international foods...and most importantly its incredible beer selection- I look forward to stopping in!
And mama- who loves to shop- loves this place the most!
After a yummy lunch consisting of a big salad, creme brulee and a chocolate mousse dome; it was off to a winery!
Ithaca, while it offers most things, does not have many wineries, so we took a little trip homeward and beyond toward Geneva.
On a back road near Seneca Lake you will find this gem of a place!
With a big winery on one side, a store and cafe on the other, and a brewery in the back, it covers most of the bases- especially since they also offer wine slushies year round!
Every day is a different combination- pomegranates and blueberries were on the menu today, and freaking wow!
But my favorite part of this trip was Mama's reaction to the items at the register- she absolutely howled with laughter, especially over Delicate Fucking Flower :-D
I really wish I would have taken video, the clerk thought she was hysterical...the pronounced Long Island accent definitely playing a part XD
This whole thing brought on a memory...
I have only ever heard mom cuss once in my life, when she startled me and my teen kids by referring to my aunt (her sister-in-law) as a "big mouthed, big assed beotch!"
After several long seconds of gaping at her in open mouthed shock (mirroring the expression on her own face, presumably because she said this out loud and in front of her grandchildren no less) we hooted with laughter for ten minutes straight, re-erupting after my son mouthed it at us an hour later XD
It seems Aunt Karen has been so-very-Karen for years, and my normally kind mama had reached her limit after a Karen-y critical text about my mom's twin...You don't mess with Aunt Joyce, apparently!
I suppose that should be obvious to me, but there just wasn't a circumstance in which someone was messing with my Eeyaa (pet name, long story) to make me aware of this before.
For some context- we have always been very close to our extended family on both sides, with a true unconditional love bond that supercedes even the most divisive issues; and while there has been bickering amongst the seniors from time to time, it always would end in someone cracking a joke that broke the tension.
I truly believe humor is the key to mending fences..of course people would need a good sense of it for that to work.
Okay, enough rambling dreemit, it's time to talk about the hive rep!
Does anyone else talk to themselves in the third person, or is it just me?
So, 73! I remember years ago when 
But gradually I made my way to 70 and beyond. If I hadn't taken a long hiatus, I might be celebrating 75 right now, but then how could I share the day with mama? :0D
People have said that the rep has lost some of its meaning- something to do with paid vote bots I think- but not for me, I still feel it's an accomplishment worth commemorating. So thank you so much to everyone who lifted me up along the way!
It's just another reason why