No more car payments!

My car is all payed off! No more car payments. That means an extra $228 every month. Of course, they say when you pay off your car, that means things will start breaking down, but I refuse to be a pessimist. Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution.

I think this video is appropriate for this time of year. Time to celebrate new beginnings. Hopefully, I'll have a better year ahead of me.

Snicker Cookies

OK, so I was tired of making the traditional Christmas cookies, so I went on the Internet to search for the most yummy and gooey cookie recipe I could find and I believe I have found it. Of course, the real test will come tonight when I bring these gems to the family Christmas gathering.

The best part of this recipe.. so easy to make! I ended up adding some water to make the dough easier to work with. If you love Snickers candy bar, then you will love these cookies. Here's the recipe!

Snicker Cookies

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbsp. milk
24 miniature snickers

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter and peanut butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat in honey and milk until well combined. Mold roughly 1 tablespoon of dough around candy. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Makes 24

Here's what it looks like...

It's comin on Christmas.....

Snow Day and Passing Away

We had a snowstorm today in Rochester, NY. It's 9:45 pm and it's still snowing outside and I can hear the wind howling as I type. So, here I am sipping my cup of hot cocoa, trying to stay warm. I have lived in Rochester all my life and you would think by now I would be used to this type of weather, but I can never get used to being buried in snow, digging out my car, cold winds, ice, and dangerous driving conditions. It is so pretty to look at..a world blanketed in white and it certainly feels like Xmas. It will definitely be a white Xmas this year. So, I used the day to put up a few Xmas decorations, although I skipped putting up a tree. I wasn't going to do anything, but I know my parents would not like me skipping Xmas.

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Raniero, a close family friend. A few months ago he was diagnosed with cancer, but his heart could not hold out. I have known Raniero and his wife Nicolena and their family since I was a child. I had a conversation with their son, George and he said his father and my father are now together in heaven.. yes, they are, probably playing bocce ball, lol! It's very tough to lose someone at Xmas time, but death doesn't know holidays and the one-year anniversary of my Mom's death is coming up. At the church, while listening to Raniero's eulogy, I was reminded of my Mom's death and shed a few silent tears.

When death must come at Christmastime,
There is a special grief,
A mourning that must mix with joy,
A pain that must be brief.
There is an anguish underneath
The labyrinth of light
That longs for simple emptiness
To contemplate the night.
But life must bubble on its way
And pleasure be put on,
For neither sorrow nor delight
Is ever left alone.
And, like the Virgin, we must smile
With enigmatic grace
As we receive the fragile gift
That nothing can replace.

Just Live Your Life

I like rap if it's well done. And, this song is well done and has a positive message.

Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (Ay! ), ay ay ay.

Casablanca

One of the greatest classic movies of all time. I never miss watching it if I happen to catch it while channel surfing.

Interesting fact - Ingrid Bergman lived in Rochester, NY with her husband and daughter in the early 1940's, while her husband attended The University of Rochester Medical School.

Here's looking at you kid....

This is my first blog post and I don't know quite what to say or which direction this will go in. I'm not sure what I should reveal about myself for the world to know. This will be a work in progress.

I will start with lyrics to a song I heard recently from the movie called "You've Got Mail". Pretty song.


Harry Nilsson - Remember lyrics

Long ago, far away

Life was clear, close your eyes

Remember is a place from long ago

Remember FILLED WITH EVERYTHING YOU KNOW

Remember when you're sad and feelin' down

REMEMBER TURN AROUND

Remember life is just a memory

Remember close your eyes and you can see

Remember think of all that life can be

Remember-

Dream, love is only in a dream, remember -

Remember life is never as it seems. Dream
Long ago, far away
Life was clear, close your eyes