Christmas Party!

Sarah set a beautiful table!

The bookclub/DMP Christmas party is by far my favorite of the year. We have certain things we do every year. Everyone brings a favorite appetizer to share, I"ll let the other bookies post their favorite recipes-that would be a wonderful blogpost. We are a little committed to certain things being there every year, such as HOME MADE MARSHMELLOWS.

After we have stuffed ourselves to bursting, we play an ornament game. We each bring an ornament, we put them into a bag (all bags are the same design so we don't know who brought what at the beginning). ONE of us forgot to do that this year! Then we draw numbers, and #1 gets to open first, #2 gets to steal #1's present or go for a new bag, and so on. #1 gets the final say, and each ornament can only be "touched" 3 times, and the 3rd person gets to keep it.

Then we exchange presents, and proceed to stuff ourselves with chocolate fondue and talk. This year we learned interesting things about office supply items, so check your Staples Ads for bargains!

We are a crazy bunch, and we have our traditions. It's great to know a group so long that you develop traditions. Merry Christmas!

Bookies on Halloween

Great party!! Thanks to Word Girl, Captain Huggy Face, Skelletor, Mr and Mrs Incredible, Poison Ivy, Cat Woman, Harley Quinn, and Underdog for a great time!

We are probably the funnest (I know that's not a word) people we know. How many women would go out in public in costume and sing! I'm proud to call all of you my friends.

Look out Underdog, there are people plotting to take your best costume trophy next year!

Super-Challenged

This year's Halloween bash is getting closer every day, and I've managed to get into character without even trying. I'm "SUPER CHALLENGED!" (in other words, I'm at a loss for my costume...) Maybe I'll play off Sarah's orginial costume and come as a Super-Jogger! All kidding aside, our group are all Super-Heroes in their own right. You'd probably never guess that this mild-mannered group of women has individually and collectively performed amazing feats of strength, courage and agility. Several of our fearless members have braved week-long encampments with large groups of teenage girls, and I am happy to report that in all cases, the girls returned home not only unharmed, but with the knowledge that they were cherished and loved. Seven of us (excluding Paula, who was already buff) have challenged the Cabo surf, head-on and lived to tell about it. Well, most of us faced it head-on. A couple of us faced it seat-down or head-on/seat-down/face-down/face-up/face-down/face-up.... There are those that bravely and for the most part, cheerfully, work with Primary children each Sunday. Our own Miss Amy is affectionately known as the "baby whisperer," and is also an awesome pre-school teacher as well as a coach (both soccer and softball). She looks pretty hot in her purple running suit, too. We are also fortunate enough to have our own resident lion trainer. OK, maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but our Crazy Cat Lady fearlessly fosters formula-fed felines. The list of amazing feats is endless, but at the top of everyone's list of accomplishments is that they are all amazing moms. That alone, makes us each a Super-Hero. I could continue for hours with the things these amazing women have done, and do every day, but that's a story for later. For now, it's up, up and away to dreamland for me...work in the morning. :)

I've been told I'm the last holdout. So, here goes. I'm not just a buff wannabe, I'm probably the biggest wannabe in the group. I wannabe buff like Paula . . . I need to work out more to hold up my huge diamond ring. I wannabe brave like Charlotte . . . she's not afraid to do or try anything (some day we'll have to share the parable of Princess Spinning Wave and Princess Sliding Seat). I wannabe a dancer like Shelly . . . she just goes with the flow. I wannabe a cook/chef like Kris . . . she has a knack for blending ingredients that make your mouth water. I wannabe Ellen's BFF like Amy . . . I saw a show last week where this women got on the show for being shot in the back of the head at point blank range. She not only survived but had no ill affects. Her friend came to see her at the hospital and said "this will get you on Ellen". Crystal offered to shoot me in the head, but I told her it was too late, that stunt had already been done. I wannabe artistic like Trish . . . she can see beauty and grace in most any setting. I wannabe bossy like Sarah - NOT. No, I wannabe organized like Sarah - oh, wait, she's only organized if Kris is involved. I know, I know, I wannabe funny like Sarah . . . she finds the humor in everything, and by laughing, the rest of us can't help but join in.

Seriously, I love these ladies. They are the best friends I've ever had. I know I can always count on them in any and every situation. They're the best!

At bookclub/DMP meeting this month the subject of favorite quotes came up. We haven't posted a list or section for favorite quotes yet, but I thought I would contribute one that I love:

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy." John Mason

I don't know who John Mason is, but the message is timeless! Embrace who you are! At DMP we enjoy each other's uniqueness and craziness. Makes for a fun and interesting group.

Bossy Vs. Bossier

So you can appreciate being called bossy, or can you? In every group, club.. there is always one or two (if your lucky) bossy people around! I can be proud of having the title. Hey there is nothing wrong with knowing what you want! Right Bossy # 1

I'm just here for the Food!

OK, that's not completely true. But it is a real benefit to hanging with this crowd. There are times that I vote for books to be read based on the dinner that will come with it. And I know you all do too, because many a book has been "sold" to the bookies with a promise of "Asian food." (Amy likes to eat fried rice.)


On the sentimental side, the recipes of my bookie friends have been integrated into my family in a way that makes us all family. We all have our "specialties" that are looked forward to, nay, demanded for certain occasions. What would Christmas be without wassail or chocolate fondue? How would any of us survive without that hot Latin girl's Mexican caviar? (just for the record, I've never seen her in a "wife beater") We will even eat bacon wrapped smokies when they have been burned beyond recognition. We love each other and love to cook extraordinary recipes that our families wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.

And for those (you know who you are) who will want to remind me of the "Velveta Fudge Incident." All I've got to say is...DOCK MY PAY!!

"She who eats the fastest, gets the most!" Amy Colby (hot Latin girl with a big appetite)


Here is one of our favorites:

Paula's Smokey Bacon Wraps

1 lb bacon

1 (16 oz) package mini smoked sausage links

1 cup brown sugar

Cut each bacon strip into thirds.

Wrap one piece of bacon around each sausage.

Place in a foil lined 15x10x1 (jelly roll) pan.

Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake uncovered at 400 for 30-40 minutes, or

until the bacon is crisp and the sausage is heated through.

DON'T BURN THEM, IT WILL RUIN YOUR DAY!

P.S. I'm the hula hoop queen. This is a fun crowd, but no one wants to hoop with me! More on that later.