Friday, May 11, 2018

CALLING YOUR MOM, AND SOME OTHER STUFF

If you're going out of your way to find the perfect gift for your mom to celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, you're probably wasting time AND money.  Most of us simply want a heartfelt card, a thoughtful long distance hello or a day of rest, especially those who have small kiddies.  That hardly ever happens though. (lol)

According to the folks over at Real Simple who did a survey with their Facebook fans a few years ago, 57% of you are calling mom on the regular, but the real surprise was that 6% stay in contact with their mothers via email only, and 6% actually waited to get a call first.  It was also interesting to see that 3% hardly made any contact at all, however, this crew  talked for a long period of time to make up for all that neglect.


My 34  year old son who shall remain  nameless, (he always swears I'll embarrass him-lol) will call, but his preferred method to reach me is by text because he refuses to use voicemail, the antiquated way of leaving a message. 

He knows me pretty well, because anyone who leaves a voicemail may get a return call about a week or so later.

I think he's also figured out that it's best for him to reach out and touch most of the time in order to avoid me calling his cell phone at 3am in the morning just to chat, and to have a really long conversation. (lol)  It's a win-win in my opinion.

FAMOUS NOVEL
This story about a family during the Great Depression was released in 1939, and the author didn't think his "run of the mill book" would do very well in bookstores.  But not only did The Grapes of Wrath win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature, but it was turned into a hit movie with Henry Fonda in 1940, and was one of the main reasons that John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.


MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Did you watch Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman on Batman Returns?  Wasn't she just perfect?  Well, she wasn't the first choice for the standout role.  Originally, Annette Bening was offered the role in 1992, but had to decline because she was pregnant at the time.  By the way, this wonderful actress has been married to Warren Beatty for over 26 years!

 ROAD TRIP
Are you a foodie?  The Atlanta Wine and Food Festival will celebrate this year from May 31 - June 3, and there will be lots of familiar chefs there with plenty of entertaining events.

SPECIAL TREATMENT
Not only can you get unlimited FREE Wifi here, but at Claridge Hotel in London, they take things even further by allowing you the use of a laptop or iPad just in case you forget yours at home.  Feel free to borrow state of the art iPads, the use of a library with a walnut desk for your convenience, yummy treats,  and classic books during your stay.  Don't be surprised to find a piano in your room either. Queen rooms are available starting at $929.00

RELAX
Purple is my fave color, so I'm thrilled that we're now in the Lilac season, and there are festivals all over the place.  A tree can grow up to 25 feet tall, and they are synonymous with the the first feelings of love, and have a sweet soothing smell.


ANIMAL FACTS
Did you know that alligators have about 80 teeth, and have been known to devour  lots of stuff, but they don't eat from November through March.  In comparison, mosquitoes have about 47 sharp edges, allowing them to bite through our skin.  These edges are not like ours in the traditional sense because our precious blood doesn't need to be actually chewed.

LOSE WEIGHT DOING THIS
I'm always looking for miracle ways to lose weight, so it was thrilling to find that the Mayo Clinic says we can burn 11 calories per hour just by chewing gum.  It also stops craving for the food we really probably shouldn't be eating. 

SPINACH BALLS
Siriously Delicious is a fun cookbook from Carson Daly's wife, Siri, and I love the catchy title of her book.  This recipe is so simple to make, and you can also find other versions online.
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the frozen chopped spinach, Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, butter, onion, eggs, salt and pepper. Shape the mixture into 1 inch balls, making about 48.
  3. Arrange the balls in a single layer on a large baking sheet for 30 minutes, rotating half way through until golden brown.
  4. Add sticks if you like, or create your own special sauce.


Just in case you are still looking for gift ideas, there are lots of specials on flowers at Food Lion, Kroger, Lidl, Aldis, Walmart, Harris Teeter and moreMany restaurants are also offering discounts and a few freebies.  Check around for deals in your neck of the woods.

79 comments:

  1. That was a bunch of interesting things today! I hope I never see an alligator in my neck of the woods!

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    1. I was just thinking the same thing Brian! (lo) Happy Saturday to you and the family! Hugs...RO

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  2. Interesting post RO...lots of cool things and info!
    Happy Mother's Day 🌹🐝💐🌷

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    1. Hope your Mother's Day weekend is amazing Jan! Hugs...RO

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  3. If only I could eat like an alligator. Perhaps I would stop resembling the Michelin woman.

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    1. EC, you always make me smile(lol) HUGE Hugs...RO

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  4. Happy MOther's Day, RO. I have no mother, no children, and my two cats refuse to use the phone. But I LOVE the idea and believe you, because a nice card and loving call sounds like the perfect way to celebrate.

    Ironically, I have never read The Grapes of Wrath, although I've wanted to for a couple of years. I've been told it is moving and powerful.

    I never saw any of the Batman movies, so I'm at a loss there. But if I had, I would have taken some of those spinach balls with me to munch on. Or maybe some Orbit!

    Again, happy Mother's Day, dear friend.

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    1. This time of year is a little sad for me because my mom is deceased, and actually died right before I finished high school, and my son lives in another state, so I pretty much spend time watching movies or reading on that day. I'm a Batman fan, and literally have all the action figures, memorabilia and movies to prove it. Ys, I know - more useless trivia. (lol) Hope your weekend is as fab as you are! Hugs...RO

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    2. I had a cat many, many years ago, who would get frustrated every time I was on the phone, and would show it by stepping on the buttons during the conversation.(lol) That was her way of telling me to hang up. If your cats start dialing the phone, please let me know right away. I want to help you get into the Guinness World Book of Records. (lol)

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  5. I live opposite my mum, and I speak to her once every couple of weeks... or whenever I see her at the corner shop. Yes, it's weird. Mother's Day in the UK was March - enjoy yours :-)

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    1. Oh wow!. I had no idea that it was celebrated in March in the UK. That's pretty interesting. I know your mom is always thrilled to hear from you Annalisa! Hugs..and Happy Saturday! RO

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  6. There is a time to speak on the dreaded telephone and that is a call to one's mother on Mother's Day if you are not to see her in person. But I love texting. You had time to think before you reply and not on the spot to answer immediately. At times I have texted my mother on her home landline and the what I text is read out to her, I suppose in a robotic voice. I'll give the spinach meatballs a miss, thanks all the same. I am intrigued by Kosher salt. In my experience from the cheapest salt to pink Himalayan salt, salt is just salt. Happy Mother's Day to you. We celebrate here on the same day.

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    1. That's a good point Andrew. Texting gives you time to say the right thing for sure. I've experienced that robotic message a few times too. (lol)
      I think I agree with you, salt is definitely just salt.(lol) Hugs...RO

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  7. I didn't really like her much in her costume as that version of Catwoman. I always preferred the Lee Meriwether and the Julie Newmar version of the character when it came to appeal.

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    1. You're right - Julie Newmar was classic and amazing in that suit, but the person I thought came close was Halle Berry, even though the movie itself wasn't that great. (lol) Hugs...RO

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  8. So much information...thank you (especially for the recipe!). Enjoy your Mother's Day!

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    1. You know I love my trivia! (lol)I thought I'd throw in the recipe for the vegetarians. (lol) Hope your Sunday is amazing! Hugs...RO

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  9. when my mom was alive i used to call her regularly once in a week (most of the time)

    my eldest son who lives in germany now calls me regularly once in a week though but we feel more open and detailed when we talk through messages as since he he left home (almost 7 years ago) we are constantly in touch through texts

    thank you for the spinach recipe ,sounds must try!

    i enjoyed your fun stuff and informative section either dear Ro!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Beautiful Baili. It's wonderful that you connect so frequently with your dear son. Family is so important! Hugs...RO

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  10. I can call my 26 year old daughter but she usually will not answer instead respond with a text “what?” Hahaha. However, we do talk alot and are very close.
    For my mom, she has everything! Its hard to find her a gift for any occasion. Just last week, at her house, I found a place in a back room full of Christmas gifts we all gave her through the years. For mothers day, I have decided to give her a book and some pampering things so she might relax. I almost bet she will say she already read that book even if she hasnt. Lol.
    Have a wonderful Mothers Day!
    Lisa

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    1. LOL! Your daughter sounds very much like my son. I have a friend like that. We'd buy her gifts every year, and we found out she was taking them all back to the store. (lol) We started giving her gift cards and she liked those much better. The pampering sounds pretty nice. As for her maybe saying she's already read the book - your mom sounds like a hoot and very fun!(lol) Happy Mother's Day to you!!! Hugs...RO

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  11. Happy Mother's Day Ro. Yes the nicest mother's day were the ones where I didn't have to cook and go to relax. I call my Mom regularly. She likes to text but does the whole talk to text and then I have to spend time figure out what she meant to say and what was written..lol

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    1. Hope your day was fabulous Kimberly. I agree, give us some much needed time off please. (lol) That talk to text thing gets me too, and I'm laughing out loud as I picture you trying to figure it all out! (lol) Hugs...RO

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  12. I love purple too!

    Also love lilacs!

    But both of us have allergic stuff. Soooooo..... No lilacs. -sigh-

    Enjoy sniffing some, for me!!!!!!!!

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    1. Oh no! That's the pits about you being allergic!!! They are so beautiful though. Hugs...RO

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  13. My daughter came over yesterday and brought me flowers for Mother's Day. She has to work this weekend so we visited early.

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    1. Oh that was super nice of your daughter Mary, and Happy Mother's Day to you both! Hugs...RO

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  14. I call my mum more now cos I let Baby S talk to her lol.
    And yes we chat daily on FB

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    1. Now that's adorable! Very cool that you're talking a lot on Facebook too. Happy Mother's Day to you! Hugs...RO

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  15. LOL, the three AM thing would be me to my mom rather than the other way around. We have the day after Mom's day talk so my brother gets her on the actual day since he lives close enough to see her in person and take her out to eat.

    Sometimes its just as interesting to know who didn't get the role in a movie as who did- or even who was considered.

    Wow, Claridges is posh! :)

    I have two lavender bushes in the yard and the white lavender is already blooming, but the other one takes his time. They do smell so fragrant.

    Have a great weekend and Mother's Day, Ro!

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    1. Your mom sounds like she has a great sense of humor. (lol) Cool that you guys were able to "share" her a little. It is cool trying to visualize someone else in a role. OMG - you have lavender right in your yard???! That's fabulous!!You are so blessed. Happy Day! RO

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  16. Happy Mother's Day RO. I call my Mom once a week at least, she lives in Europe and we chat via whattsapp or skype.

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    1. That's cool that you guys stay connected even though it's really long distance. I know she loves hearing from you! Hope your day was great! Hugs...RO

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  17. I actually took my mom out to a restaurant, and we really enjoyed that. My mom's quite poor, so she now dreams of making some money and taking me out to the same restaurant. She really loved it :)

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    1. That sounds like a really fun time Evelina, and I'm thrilled that your mom really enjoyed it so much! I sometimes earn a little extra cash on the side doing surveys with paidviewpoint and mintvine. They payout pretty quickly and takes up about 30 minutes of my time a day. I don't have the patience to dedicate more time than that!(lol) Hope your day is as amazing as you are! Hugs...RO

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  18. Love all the goodies on this post:)
    Happy Mother's Day, Rockin Ro.
    Hugs

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    1. Thanks a bunch Super Sandra, and hope your day was great! Hugs...RO

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  19. Happy Mother's Day, Ro :)
    I talk to my mom a few times a week on FaceTime, and we're in touch almost every day via messages as well. We don't get to see each other as often as we'd like though, as we live in different countries. And all my kids still live at home, so I'm all good with chatting with them every day for now :)
    Have a wonderful week ahead. Hugs,
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Hey There Lexxie and Happy Day after Mother's Day to you! You know I'm always thrilled when you stop by!!! It's so good that you and mom still connect so regularly despite living in different countries. Proof that there's no excuse not to call mom. (lol) Hugs...RO

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  20. Hope your Mother’s Day is going Great! Thanks for the spinach ball recipes, I will be making it this week to go with dinner. :)

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    1. Hope your day was great Jenea, and yes I've really been trying to find ways to get those veggies in. (lol) Hope you enjoy. Hugs..RO

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  21. Good one, keeping the connect is important irrespective of the medium. It is always good to visit them often, I prefer that.

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    1. I agree,as long as someone is staying in touch, that's cool. Both my parents are deceased, but I still remember the things they tought me over the years. Hugs...and Happy Wednesday! RO

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  22. I am not always good about returning messages either, and I have no idea why! That's funny though about the texting. :) I used to HATE texting but now that I have gotten more used to it I find myself wanting to use it in lieu of phone calls? I have become the enemy :)

    Wow the Claridge looks nice :)

    That's a brave chipmunk on that alligator

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    1. For sure Greg. I used to work in the call center as a manager, and people left me messages or called me or emailed me all the time (lol), so now I rejoice in not having anything really important to have to return a call for. (lol) I was like you and the texting thing made me nervous. Now it's easier to get the point across, if possible via text or email. But there are still days, I like speaking on the phone like the old days. Hope your Wednesday is going great! I thought that chipmunk was pretty darn cute. (lol) Hugs...RO

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  23. Hey RO, i’d love to hold a conversation by mouth but that isn’t really possible now i’ve had a stroke. My mum will understand that. It’s a shame it’s like that but i’ll always think of her.

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  24. The advantage of chewing gum is it also keeps your breath fresh.

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    1. Absolutely and there are some great flavors too! Hugs...RO

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  25. Happy belated mother's day!! I didn't know that about gum, but it makes sense. I find it keeps me feeling full longer, so it's good for after meals. :)

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    p.s. you needed my email, yes?

    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

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    1. I love all the different flavors of gum they have these days too! Hugs...RO

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  26. I suffer from not being able to return message soon, also purple is the color of the year so you should check that out!

    Great Post!
    Tori @ In Tori Lex

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  27. Happy Mom's Day RO. My baby girl chats with me on the phone a couple of times a week but we also text more often then that. And just so you know I'm going to start buying gum by the case LOL :)

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    1. Did you get that gum yet Dear Debbie?!(lol) Hugs and Happy Sunday! RO

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  28. Happy mother's day RO, hope you had a wonderful day of relaxation. My elderly mother lives with my husband and I, so we have a wonderful relationship Strained at times as you can imagine, as adults clash sometimes but more often than not it's a relief that she isn't on her own. I'm not a mother yet myself but I love hearing about kids visiting their parents at least once a week if they live within the same area, or calling and these days we have Skype. Our parents age so quickly and while we live such busy lives, often it's our parents that are neglected and left behind.

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    1. That's great that you take care of your mom, even though it can be a little stressful at time. It is best if we can be around to make sure they're doing okay. Family is so important! Hugs and Happy Sunday! RO

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  29. Our boys are close in age. Mine is 36.
    Many thanks for offering to help me get the word out, Rockin Ro. Much appreciated.
    I added a sign up button at the bottom of the page.

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    1. Very cool. I bet your son has cool stories to tell. (lol) I searched for the sign-up button and your email, and found neither. So Sorry. Am I looking in the wrong place? Would it better for you to email me at goddess10@gmail.com?

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  30. I'm a big texter. I communicate mostly with my mother and my kids (except for the youngest because he's only 8) through text the majority of the time. It's just easier that way and because it's quick I think we communicate a lot more often than we would if it was a phone call. I need to start chewing gum more often!

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    1. I text and use email only because I don't like to speak on the phone, however, I prefer to speak to my son so I can actually hear what's going on in his mind(lol) Yay to gum! Hugs...RO

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  31. Spinach balls and chewing gum! Sounds good to me! LOL! I hope you had a great Mother's Day Ro!! My middle brother is one of those, who doesn't call his mom much! I love purple! Our lilac tree will be blooming soon! That's interesting about alligators! I love the picture! LOL!
    Big Hugs Ro!

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    1. Very cool to have a lilac tree! I can just imagine the wonderful fragrance in your yard. Hugs and Happy Sunday! RO

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  32. Happy belated Mother's Day RO!!! :) I'm just a fur-mom, but my "kids" were good to me on Mother's Day lol ;)...our lilac tree is just starting to bud, I can't wait until the flowers bloom!

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  33. Heh. I'm pretty sure Steinbeck was more than happy to be wrong on that call don't ya imagine?:)
    Stay cool...
    Hugs

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  34. My mom and I usually text a lot just because it's easier with our schedules, but we also do enjoy the occasional long phone call. Hope you had a good Mother's Day!

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  35. I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! My college son Facetime's me several times a week from college and I love being able to see him while we talk. The lilacs are just blooming here and they're just gorgeous!

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  36. My son likes to contact me through texting or messaging me through Facebook. It means he doesn't have to get off his computer and can do two things at once. Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! We spent the day strolling around Rothenburg. Lovely little city here in Germany.

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    1. LOL! Sons are pretty interesting, right? Cool that you had such a relaxing time on Mother's Day, and I'm so thrilled that you stopped by to say hello! Hugs...RO

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  37. Would you believe I'm still trying to get in touch with my mom for Mother's Day? I was sick for two days, and then the nursing home couldn't find her...don't worry, she's fine, she's usually out in the garden or doing puzzles or waiting for the food to be served, etc. So, yeah, I'm going to try again today. :)

    Elsie

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    1. Your mom sounds like she's super popular and busy, which I love! Hope your day was amazing! Hugs..and Happy Sunday!RO

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  38. At 29 I actually still live with my mum, we have a best friends relationship really so I can't imagine not speaking with her everyday. I definitely think more people should make effort!

    Raindrops of Sapphire

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    1. Family is so important, and it's great that your relationship is so amazing! Hugs...RO

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  39. 'Siriously Delicious' somehow made me think of 'delirious'—in a positive way, though. You're right, the title is catchy and totally memorable. And I LOVE 'Grapes of Wrath'! Though I'd have to admit that 'East of Eden' has a special place in my heart... Maybe because I read it first, or because of the miniseries (the Jane Seymour one, not the James Dean), not sure. Great post, RO!

    Thanks so much for stopping over at Elsie Amata's for my guest post there, and for the lovely comment. Cats totally rock :)
    Guilie @ Life In Dogs

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  40. Both Michelle Pfeiffer and Hally Berry did a wonderful job as Cat Woman didn't they?
    Have a Rockin weekend, Ro:)
    Hugs

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    1. I think they both did good jobs, but I'm still a little partial towards Michelle in the role. Hugs...RO

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  41. Oh my mom would be fit to be tied if I didn't call her every day (multiple times we talk lol). The only time I don't call is when we have a fight and we're both waiting the other out to see who will break and call first. Usually we only make it to the 2-3 day mark before one of us does. lol

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    1. I sure hope I get to meet your mom one day. She just sounds amazing and fun! Hugs...RO

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  42. I always enjoy your posts, you never quite know what will be in the mix!
    I do hope you had a good Mother's Day, and that the week that followed was a good one too!

    All the best Jan

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    1. I never know either Jan(lol) Hope your day is fabulous! Hugs...RO

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