Pfunksfoolosophy

Well, first let me apologize for neglecting you. It wasn’t my intent to completely forget about you. I feel just like Loretta Lynn in “Coalminer’s Daughter” when she has her breakdown.  “Patsy’s always sayin’ ‘little girl, ya got to run your own life’….well, mah life’s been a-runnin’ me” Yep. I’ve let my life run away with me and I’ve not been an active participant and I’ve allowed my work drama get under my skin. Kids, it’s a friggin’ job; it’s not my life. Whoa, Nellie, right?
So, it’s back, back in the NY groove. Spoke with some friends, got it together and feel that my big ‘ole size elevens are rooted again in the soil of my life’s rhythm. Going to get back to writing because that’s important to me. I’ve got a ton of stories to tell and they’re worth telling.
Back to cooking again, which is a blast and the big news…drumroll please…

THE PRETZEL COOKBOOK IS ON AMAZON! So you can pre-order it and have a blast.

The title is: The Pretzel Cookbook: A New Twist on Everyone’s Favorite Snack.

Take a look; you’ll be glad that you did. OR, you’ll completely forget about it and it will go directly into the remainder bin.
Wow, way to have a positive outlook. Frankly, I think it’s a great book for what it is…pretzels. Pretzels are a favorite for many, many folks.
If you dig soft pretzels this is your book. If you’re too lazy to bother making pretzels, there are recipes using store bought pretzels.

If you are somewhere in the middle, there’s recipes using frozen bread dough.

You can run, but you can’t hide. Get the book. After you receive it, shoot me an email and I might just autograph it for ya.

Could be valuable some day. COULD BE…ya never know.

This week, let’s try to keep a positive outlook. When something or someone gets you down, remember that you’ve got at least one person pulling for you. That person is the Pfunk.

I believe in you. You can accomplish just about anything as long as you let your light shine. Let it shine, people! Rock it when you can, appreciate just where you are right now; you may know it can only get better. Better and better. Life is short, so play like you mean to win.

With that said, I bid you a kick ass week.

 Go get ‘em!

(or take a nice long nap.)

Recipes are coming…I’ve been remiss on that front as well.

Yet again, my life has taken over and my writing has suffered.

Well, let’s get down to it: American Idol. Wow. Is it wrong to have a crush on a kid of about 15 or so? That little fella from Utah is a sweetie. A little too earnest, but I dig him. Simon’s hair is what I stay for, though. That guy. Wow…yikes.

Lemme see…OH! I went to visit my best friend and her family a couple of weekends ago and Patrick coined a new phrase: “Yeeks!”  Please be sure to use it in place of “Yikes” whenever you can. It’s enjoyable.

Work, being sick, having my purse stolen…loads to tell but not now.
Love ya, keep on truckin’.

Hey, gang…

It’s been about twenty days or so since I last blogged. What’s been going on in my life? Not a whole lot–I just haven’t felt like being on the computer. Just trying to sort things out in my life, get my career going and not want to shoot my face off. Yippee…so far so good. Had a show on the sixteenth and it went well. Once I convert it to dvd, I’ll put it on the site. You know I want to share my humor with you on all levels.

Didn’t watch the Oscars so I won’t talk about that. You didn’t want to hear it from me anyway. I did hear that my boyfriend Javier Bardem won. I love him. I can’t help myself.

In other news, I think that I may have to really start looking for a place to live. I can’t take it in the hairball haven much longer. Pray for me.
Great things: Discovered a brand of sour cream with salsa already in it. That makes me happy. My kid introduced me to the Tostitos with a hint of lime and they go great with the sour cream. My new favorite snack. Also found a nice mint chocolate that the people from Lindt put out…it’s dark chocolate. Good for me. Mama like.

Got myself some Valentine’s day chocolate for 90 cents. SCORE!!!
Awright, so most of my good things are food related. Hey, I’m a foodie.

Sweet mother: Gotta mambo. Gotta go watch Sean Puffy Combs massacre one of the most moving pieces ever written for the stage. That’s right: A Raisin in the Sun is on the telly.

Lord help me, I’m gonna watch it.

Maybe he’ll be struck mute. Nope, this ain’t live…why do I get the urge to slap him whenever he speaks? Could be because he just looks like the kinda guy who needs a good knock around. Eh. Violence solves nothing. Maybe I should get some chocolate.

Ahhh, yes.

I’m back kids. I’ll share more goodness with ya later.
Be well and keep on truckin’. Like Eddie Kendrick. Keep on truckin’.

Top Ten Reasons to Choose Joy

10. If you commit a murder they’ll find ya. Watch ”America’s Most Wanted”. They’re good.

9. It beats being crabby and miserable.

8. Sure you could probably find someone to ’do’ the person you really, really can’t stand, but

it wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying as you think. I’m just speaking from my experience watching

Lifetime Network’s ”Women in peril who pay someone to off their husbands” movies.

7. It feels good to embrace the wonder of life. It does. I’m not trying to kid ya.

6. Being joyful might just annoy the heck outta the bastard/bitch who is buggin’ the heck outta YOU

5. You’ll live longer.

4. You will love better.

3. You’ll probably eat less.

2. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Wait–that isn’t a reason, but a comment. Okay, so number TWO…you deserve joy.

1. Joy is the second word in my favorite candy bar the Almond Joy. How cool is that?

Yep, I’m havin’ a rough go of it this week. BUT, I am happy. I’m loved. I’m secure.

I still have laughter and best of all, I’ve got some pretty groovy tunes.

Totally cool 70s and 80s funk featuring the Ohio Players. I can hear you all singing

“Rollercoaster of Love” right now.

Rolla-coastuh! Of love! (say what?) Rolla-coastuh! whoo hoo hoo hoo!

Yeah, you know you’re rockin’!

Ahhh, music!

Get down people!

Well, gang…I’ve not written in a while because my kids came for a visit. They’re still here.

Pooper is a friggin’ laugh riot and he’s soooo very precious. The kid kills me. When he doesn’t like something, he says, “Me can’t like this, Bubbe”. You know, if you can’t like something, you can’t like it. He also says, “No, thank you” which makes my heart soar. Good manners. We like that. He’s a holy terror when it’s time for a nap, though. Just like his mother was. Gets really active and out of control. You have to say, “Must. Not. Shake. Baby” when he gets like that. My birthday was the 17th and he and his mom arrived that day. I was dog tired, but overjoyed to see them at Port Authority. He came running, smiling and screaming for me. His mom told me later that while they were waiting for me to pick them up he said, “Bubbe’s not coming. Let’s go back to Yaya’s house”. Poor kid.  I was late and he was tired. We went to IHOP for all you can eat pancakes. You know, it’s not that easy to get a value out of that because all I can eat is typically three pancakes. Who are they kidding? Pancakes are belly busters, man. But I love them so…

Okay, fast forward to brunch on Sunday with my pals. They’d never met Pooper so it was a blast to watch their surprise at how wonderful he is. Claude brought him a Curious George balloon, which is floating around my bedroom even now. I want to post photos, but I don’t want some stalker coming out…ahem.

Lemme see…oh, so Pooper’s birthday was on the 22nd and we went to Brooklyn for a fete hosted by my pal David. It was fun and Pooper received a nice present: Harmonica. Pre-boiled for safety. He doesn’t know where it is now. (in my purse for safekeeping. and my sanity) Pooper actually has musical talent, but it’s annoying to hear the same riff over and over. I can take but so much.

Koya got sick so we’re trying to nurse her back to health.

They leave Sunday. I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled blogging at that time.
I’ve missed ya, kids

It’s my ‘ex-husband’s’ birthday. Claude is my partner in comedy crime (or crimes against comedy), he’s my duet partner in an ever evolving musical extravaganza and most importantly, he’s a dear friend.

Here’s hoping your day is filled with laughter, joy and loads of lovely love. Keep on keepin’ on, Claude.
I loves ya.

In addition to being a Wholigan of the highest order, I am also a jazziac. A lot of the great ones are gone and now we say goodbye to The Maharaja of the keyboard, Oscar Peterson.

There was no one like him and there will be no one to replace his artistry.  His playing was subtle and understated, evidenced on his recordings with Ella and Louis. The classical training of his youth shone through and earned him a place in jazz royalty.

I’ll miss him, but I’m stoked to have his recordings. Check him out on youtube.

I’ll write more later.

Peace

As you can see, I’ve been a busy kid. Haven’t had much time to blog. I am preparing for the arrival of my kid and grandson for my birthday, which is in a couple of weeks.

I’m over the moon since I’ve not seen them since this past summer. Apparently, Pooper is nearly 41 inches tall. He’ll be three on the 22nd of this month. Five days after his due date, which is my birthday, for the record…ahem. Muhammad Ali, Betty White, Andy Kaufman and me…how splendid….okay, so the challenge of embracing each moment is going well.

I’m really quite happy most days. There is the residual paranoia that accompanies the feeling of contentment because after all is said and done, I’m still the adult child of an alcoholic, so I can’t completely trust the groovy stuff. (that’s a joke, kids.)

While I have experienced a good deal of drama in recent months, I can safely say that I know it was for a reason and if I didn’t have good friends and a strong faith, I would probably be in a padded room at Dr. Dippy’s Retreat or at the very least, a cell at a women’s prison somewhere.

Have I done a gratitude list lately? Have YOU?
Let’s all take a moment or two to create our gratitude lists, shall we?

Here goes:

 I’m grateful for my life. It may be confusing and busy and occasionally crazy, but it’s life and life is sometimes messy; it beats the alternative.

I’m grateful for a roof over my head, no matter how many times my roomie burns whatever it is he’s cooking. At least I’m not living at the chicken coop.

I’m grateful for my family–even if they drive me nuts, it’s never really a long drive and it’s nothing that I didn’t ask for when you think about it. I love them and I am loved by them. I don’t need much else.

I’m grateful for my friends and their unconditional love. See the above reasons as they apply here as well.

I’m grateful for employment that doesn’t make me want to shoot my face off every day. Sure, it’s corporate and I’m not a corporate monkey, but it keeps me fed and housed. Ya gets what ya need when ya works.

I’m grateful that I’ve got enough talent to keep me afloat.

I’m grateful for my spirit and my sense of humor.

I’m grateful that I can see past my own needs.

I’m grateful that I am a work in progress and know that there is no such thing as perfection.

I’m grateful for the path that leads me to joy every day.

I’m grateful for the times when I don’t feel particularly grateful and I’m reminded in some  way that I’m all  I’ve got.

I’m grateful for this blog to blow off steam in a constructive way; I’ll not make any money from it, but it’s an outlet for healthy communication.

I’m grateful I’m not the person  I was yesterday.

I’m grateful that I’ve got a steady grip on who I am becoming.
Your turn. Be grateful. Be joyful. Be content right  where you are because you’re supposed to be there for a reason.

Circumstances will change the moment YOU change…I’ve  learned that much.

Right now is good, ain’t it?

Gang, it’s about time we made some real changes in our lives, right? I’m not talking about making resolutions, but commitments to one another and most importantly to ourselves. It’s been a whirlwind of anxiety, stress and upheaval, but it’s over. Time to write on a nice clean sheet of paper in our books, okay?

So, before the ball drops in Times Square…I am committed to changing the way I think, the way I move and the way I feel. I am excited to really live in each moment, as I say I do. No more headnoise. No more worry. It’s going to be a struggle as long as I make it so; the time to act is always now and there’s never a time when it isn’t now.

What is holding you back from success? From getting what you want out of life? For me, it’s simple…it’s ME. I’m caught up in everything but what’s important. Mary J. Blige has a song called ‘No more drama’ and it’s got to resonate with some of you out there.

It’s time, folks. None of us is getting any younger and we’re certainly not promised tomorrow, so let’s take action. Let’s participate in our lives fully and with joy.

Choose to be happy in every moment. Even when you’re feeling like something the dog AVOIDED, man…ya gotta find it within yourself to choose to be joyous.

Choose your bliss. Know that right now is what counts.

Right now.

Happy new year! One moment, one day at a time.

Who loves ya? Pfunk, man. Always the Pfunk.

Gotta tell ya… in my family, the tradition is that we watch ‘A Christmas Story’ and while in my day, we watched ‘ A Christmas Carol’ with a very young June Lockhart, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and of course, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’—as well as ‘Yours, Mine and Ours’ with a fetching Lucille Ball and a rather comely and hip Henry Fonda, I am pleased as punch that “A Christmas Story” has become a holiday classic.

Darren McGavin is priceless and the story is told sooo well that even if you didn’t grow up You just never escape it, do you?
That is what makes the movie so very, very splendid.

You can relate to little Ralphie.

Adults attempt to thwart him at every turn, yet he continues.

It’s a groovy lesson, ain’t it?
I never wanted a BB gun, but I sure as heck wanted a Talking Viewmaster.

When I got it, I was the happiest little girl in the world.

Ya know what? I’m still the happiest little girl in the world. Here’s why: The mundane is STILL interesting to me. That’s all.

Nothing more than that.

Hey, I’ve gotta get back to cookin’ for my peeps.

Here’s hoping the new year brings you prosperity and as much love as you can choke down.

Bless us, right? Every doggone one of us.

: )