Memes help us get to know one another

I think I saw this meme on Hermione's blog years ago and I know I did it a few years back.  I thought I'd have a go again. I hope a few others will try it. I do think it's the best way to learn more about the different bloggers, without truly giving out personal information.

11.   Is sex best in the morning, afternoon, or night?

Absolutely!!

2. On which side of the bed do you sleep?

I sleep on the right.

3. Pork, beef, or chicken?

I love them all, but it’s hard to beat Lily’s fried chicken.

4. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke?

Not in the past four decades or so, so give me a break.

5. What leg do you put in pants first when putting them on?

Come to think of it I usually sit on the bed and put both leg in at once. Is that strange?

6. Candles or incense?

We don’t burn incense and we don’t burn candles for the aroma too often.

7. Do you dance when no one is watching?

I’ll dance anytime Tom asks me – I don’t care if anyone is watching or not.

8. Did you play doctor when you were little?

No.

9. Stove top cooking or microwave?

What about them? Oh, you want to know which I can use? Let’s just say I know where both are located.

10. Would you rather your car or your house be dirty?

Neither.

11. Shower or bath?

Both can feel wonderful, but when Tom give me a bath it’s pure bliss.

12. Do you pee in the shower?

I’m sure I have.

13. Mexican or Chinese food?

Definitely Chinese for me, Mexican for Tom.

14. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed?

Most definitely aggressive!

15. Do you own sex toys?

We don’t. Tom doesn’t think they’re necessary. I don’t think they’re necessary either – but that doesn’t mean I’d mind experimenting a little.

16. Corn dogs or hot dogs?

Hot dogs for sure. I don’t care for corn dogs.

17. Your favorite restaurant?

Way too many to name. We love good food and we know excellent restaurants across the country.

18. What did you have for lunch today?

Egg salad on toast, fruit and chips.

19. When did you last fall down?

Actually two days ago. I trip over a shoe in the bedroom floor and grateful fell into the bed.

20. Have you ever wished someone were dead?

My first husband – I guess I wished it so hard he finally died.

21. Love or money?

I’ve never lived without blessed finances, I have lived without love and I’d give up money in a heart beat if I could only have one or the other.

22. Credit cards or cash?

Credit cards.

23. Has there ever been anyone in your family you wish wasn’t?

In the family I was born to, yes - me! I often wished I wasn't in that family. In the family we’ve created for ourselves absolutely not!

24. Oreos or vanilla wafers?

Vanilla wafers, the only vanilla things I like! But I like Oreos too.

25. How do you like your steak cooked?

Rare!

26. How do you like your eggs cooked?

By Tom or Lily.

27. Have you ever knocked someone off their feet in a fight?

I have, more than once as a matter of fact.

28. Would you rather go camping or to a five-star hotel?

 Since I don’t ever plan on going camping I suppose we’ll never know.

29. Would you rather have a root canal or minor surgery?

I’ve had both and see no need to repeat either.

30. Would you shave your entire body (including your head) for money?

I would not.

31. Would you rather have lice or an STD?

Once again a comparison I’ve never had to make and don’t intend to.

32. What’s your favorite hard candy?

 I don’t really like hard candy.

33. Ever been to a strip club?

I have.

34. Ever been to a bar?

Let me think… perhaps.

35. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club?

You had to go there. Yes, I have.

36. Ever been so drunk you had to be carried out of somewhere?

Ever refused to answer a question because it’s no one else’s business?

37. Kissed someone of the same sex?

I have.

(The rest of these questions could come with much explanation – I choose not to explain most of them.)

38. Had sex in the car?

Yes.

39. Had sex at the beach?

Yes.

40. Had sex in a movie theater?

Yes – okay, a little explanation, we have a home theater.

41. Had sex in a bathroom?

Yes, in the shower.

42. Have you ever been in an “adult” store?

Once, and paid dearly for the experience.

43. Is there anyone on your friends list you would ever consider having sex with?

Tom

44. Have you been caught having sex?

Yes.

45. Have you ever kissed a stranger?

Yes.

46. Does anyone have naughty pictures of you?

Lord, I hope not.

Thanksgiving at the River

I’ve thought for several years now that I want to return to blogging. Most of the friends I met when I first began have moved on to other endeavors. But as I’ve lurked and talked to some out here, I know there are fine folks here now.

When I first began blogging, I was trying to fill long lonely hours while Tom was working and I was delighted when I found other women who lived the lifestyle Tom and I had shared for so long. Back then I only got to see Sue and Annie a few times a year. Ryan was just a dear boy who took care of our lawn. Much of the time I was lonely. But God showered us with abundant blessings and these days ‘lonely’ is a feeling I can barely remember.

Everyone came here for Thanksgiving this year! The only ‘family members’ missing were Cal and Jenny.  They were at his folks. Since Jenny has no contact with her parents – thank goodness, I have claimed her as my own. Cal has to deal with me as a mother-in-law and you can all imagine how he loves that!

Sixteen sat down at our extended table. Lily and Allie acted as chefs with Drew and Jackson training as sous chefs. Drew is Allie’s ‘little’ brother – he stands at six feet seven inches! He began dating Henry’s son, Jackson, several months ago and they both seem very happy. Henry’s daughter Lacey, pitched in wherever she was needed. She’s recently begun dating a fine young man and he joined us also. We were so happy that Chris and Kate, Allie and Drew’s parents, flew in from London. But having one more ‘mother’ at the gathering finally caused Allie to have a small blow up.

We had finished our lovely meal and Allie and Lacey were bringing the desserts to the table. Kate leaned in to whisper something to Annie and then they both looked up at Allie. I saw Allie stop in her tracks and set the two pies she was carrying onto the island.

“Alright, I’ve had enough! It’s time we all had a ‘Come to Jesus Meeting!’” I inwardly smiled at her use of one of Lily’s favorite sayings. Lily used it when she was particularly upset with something Sue and I had done. But I had no idea what Allie was talking about. She soon let us know.

“I’m sick of the looks, the whispers, the questions you can’t quite bring yourselves to ask. I feel it every time I say I’m tired, every time I turn down a glass of wine, every time I say I’ve gained a few pounds and every time I say something about not feeling well.

“Every time one of those things happens, everyone around gets the little light in their eyes, that hopeful look on their face then immediately looks at my stomach.

“I am not pregnant! I am intentionally trying not to get pregnant. And you people and your hopes and dreams and speculations are driving me crazy!”

We all sat a little stunned, although I’m sure each of us would have had to admit the truth in her accusations. Allie finally gave us a little smile as she went over and put her arms around her mother’s neck. “I know how much you are all looking forward to grandchildren. And Ryan and I have every intention of giving them to you – but in our time, not yours. Give me a break. I’m barely twenty-three. You act like we’re going to sneak off and have an baby in secret. When we get pregnant, we’ll let you all in on it – I swear. But please, please stop speculating every time you see me!”

Those of us around the table gave somewhat of a collective sigh. She was right and several of us began to apologize. Sue, however, was true to form when she piped up and said, “You sure you’re not pregnant? You sound pretty hormonal to me.” That got us all laughing and with a deep eye-roll Allie and Lacey got back to serving dessert.

Later that afternoon I happened to see Allie on the deck alone and joined her. “Have we really been that bad, honey?” I asked her.

She sighed, “Yes, Mom, you’ve really been that bad. And it’s not just you wanna-be grandmas either. Tom, Steve, Andy and my dad are nearly as bad.

I nodded as I chuckled. It was true, Tom and I often spoke about a potential grandchild and he was every bit as enthusiastic as I.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with y’all when we do have a baby. We may have to move away to keep the kid from being spoiled rotten by more grandparents than we can hold back.”

I gave her a stricken look and she quickly put her arm around me. “Mom! I’m kidding. We’d never leave the river and all of you. You can spoil our child as much as you want – with your time. But if we didn’t rein you guys in, the poor kid would have a bike, a motorcycle, a pool, a puppy and a pony before he was a year old!”

I sighed and nodded at her. She wasn’t wrong. “Cassie, you’re going to be the best grandma in the world. You should have a dozen grandchildren. But I’m afraid I just can’t do that for you. Can you settle for one or two.

“Oh, you know I can!” I told her with a big smile. Little did either of us know at the time, that indeed, in the future I was to be the grandmother of an even dozen.

So I’m backing off. No more pushing for Allie and Ryan to have a baby right this minute. But I do want to be able to be nimble enough to get on the floor to play with the child when he or she comes. And I’m not getting any younger! But I’ll quit pushing. Maybe.

Let me introduce myself...

I think that if I'm going to come back and post a little more often, I need to reintroduce myself to any new readers. There are ten books in the Cassie’s Space series now. I’m certainly not able to fill you in on all the details, but this is the introduction from the tenth book and tell you a little about all of us now.

I was widowed early when my first husband died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his forties. He was twenty years my senior, and the marriage had not been a happy one. With his death, I was suddenly both wealthy and free. I immediately cut ties with my parents, who had forced me into that marriage, and began partying like there was no tomorrow. This went on for nearly five years. I suppose the only thing that kept me from flying off the earth was my friendship with my best friends, Sue and Annie, and their husbands.

Even these dear friends were having a hard time keeping me together until my wonderful Tom came into the picture. Tom fell in love with me almost the moment he saw me. I had done nothing in my life to deserve this wonderful man, but I was blessed with him anyway. We married after a brief courtship and with his love and stabilizing influence, I not only survived that turbulent time, but have thrived under his loving attention for forty years.

I could easily paint Tom as perfect, but he does have a few annoying traits. He’s bossy. He’s domineering and he’s terribly old-fashioned. I can’t say I didn’t know this when we were first married. Perhaps I didn’t realize the degree to which these traits molded him, but I certainly knew they were there. I’m not complaining. When you weigh the good against the bad, there is no contest. As I said, he’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for me.

For a good part of our early marriage we spent most of our time alone. We visited with friends often and traveled with them, but our day-to-day time was spent with each other. I was completely fine with that. Talking with Tom was, and still is, something I cherish. I think he was the first person to ever listen to me and he still does to this day. That continues to amaze me. However, as we’ve gotten older we’ve realized the joy of living close to our friends. They’re more family than friends and now that we live close, neighbors actually, those long times where it’s just the two of us are but a fond memory.

Although she is the newest member of the family, Lily is the one who keeps us all straight these days. Lily came to us last year to care for Sue when she was ill. My description of Lily, as well as my feelings for her, often change drastically, sometimes on an hourly basis. She’s a woman of color, in her early forties and the most energetic person I know. Within weeks she was indispensable to us all. She can be the sweetest, most loving, nurturing woman anyone could ever find. Then the next minute she is the most bossy, annoying, strict, opinionated busybody that ever drew breath.

Technically, all three families employ her and she cooks and cleans for us all on a rotating basis. But Lily seems to have a bit of trouble remembering that she’s not the boss. She lives in Annie and Andy’s mother-in-law apartment and Lily thinks Annie can do no wrong. She harbors no such illusions about Sue and me. She does her best to keep us out of trouble and we do make her earn her money in that respect. And for all my griping and complaining, we all love Lily dearly and I know she loves us right back.

Sue and Steve moved here three years ago and Annie and Andy just six months ago. We all love spending a lot of time together. But these two wonderful couples aren’t the only family we have. Tom and I legally adopted Ryan just as he graduated from college. That’s the best time to adopt. We managed to miss the terrible twos, as well as much of the teen angst. One of my greatest joys is introducing him as our son after he had been just a dear young friend for six years. One of the finest things my son has ever done for us is marrying another friend of mine just a short time ago. Sweet Allie was our sixteen-year-old neighbor when we moved to the river five years ago. Now Sue, Annie and I have been friends for nearly fifty years, but Allie fit in with us old broads like a missing puzzle piece and we all love her dearly.

I think this gives you the basics. I hope you’ll come by as I occasionally update what’s going on here at the river and maybe tell a few old stories from the past.

I'm thinking of coming back. Are you still lurking?

I know, I know – I have no right whatsoever to be here. But when has something like that ever stopped me? It’s been a full year since I posted here and would you believe that I still have lurkers?

I wasn’t going to post this year, but new and interesting ideas have come to mind. PK is asking for more stories. Will I be doing another book? Who knows, but I do still have more to say. I wouldn’t be posting often, heaven knows. But it has certainly piqued my interest.

I’ve enjoyed doing the books. I hope some of you will read them if you haven’t. They have recently been re-edited but we’re still waiting for Blushing to send these newly edited copies to Amazon so that you can up-date your Kindle to the better edited version or if the books are new to you and you’d like to try them I hope to have these better edited one ready for you soon. They may even be coming out in paperback. Of course I’ve been hoping this for several months now, so…

I’m using Love our Lurkers Day as a way of asking if you’d be willing to drop by if I do start posting a little again. It’s not going to be wildly exciting every time, but Tom and I did have a lovely second honeymoon and things are always hopping here at the river. All the family is well. Hopefully you’ll be hearing from everyone soon.

Love,
Cassie