My grandma and I celebrating her birthday last year in wine country.

Last year for my grandma’s birthday I flew in to her hometown, rented a car and took her wine tasting. My grandma is a lush and there is nothing cuter than seeing her a little tipsy.

All joking aside, my grandmother is one of the most wonderful and amazing people. She is incredible and inspiring. I love her to pieces. She is really such an amazing and powerful force behind who and what I am today. When I think of my grandma I think of love, warm hugs and encouraging words. She’s got the most infectious laugh and I love it when someone gives her a bad time, she get this certain voice and says their name — it says it all.

Things everyone should know about the greatest grandma in the world:

- She can kick your butt at any card game. Oh, she’ll pretend she doesn’t know how to play, in reality — she’s just waiting to make the kill

- You have to repeat everything you say twice.  She still won’t hear you, but she’ll smile and tell you that what you said was great.

- She is encouraging. Whatever goals you have, she will be right there to tell you you’re doing great.

-She makes the BEST tuna sandwiches. It is not just the way she slices the bread, but the pickles (I can’t give away the secret).

- She gives really good H-U-G-S

-She has the world’s biggest sweet tooth and is so petite it doesn’t show

-She can sew, knit, crotchet like there’s no tomorrow. She gave us all the best wash clothes for Christmas

-She is kind, generous, thoughtful, giving - enough synonyms?

-She’s got a little dog named Taffy (who is cute but very very stupid)

-She loves old country music and Elvis. I don’t know how many Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers songs I know because of my grandma.

-I wouldn’t be surprised if she still owned 8-track tapes and played them ;-)

Happy 82nd Birthday grandma!

Picture by Philip Simic

In follow up to last week’s poet here is the 2008 National Poet Laureate, Charles Simic. When I was researching him the first poem I came across was A Book Full of Pictures and I fell in love with his words instantly. I kept reading and reading. So much talent. So many of his poems kept reaching me in a way only great poetry can. If I could make love to words, they would be his. You will NOT regret finding out more about his poet!

This little monster is all mine!

Today is the 2-year anniversary of the greatest thing to ever happen to me - Indy came home. He was sick and he was mine. He was getting over pneumonia, had kennel cough and the cutest puppy paws you ever saw!

I love music that I can shake my booty too. I enjoy upbeat tunes that make me want to dance. Infernal from Denmark has a UK album and it is so much fun! Every song makes me want to rock out Flash Dance style in my living room. The great thing about this album is that the lyrics are so much more than the current US lyrics of sex, money, drugs and cars.