thought for the day....when friends move up the social ladder

Over the past few weeks, i've been examining how i interact with people.  For the past year or so, it's been through social media mostly. And, while that has its advantages, it's not always the best way as i have learned.  But it has also made me go back and look at my relationships that are not what they use to be and try and figure out what happened.

One of my friendships has been moved to the back burner because we're no longer in the same social class.  Now, as i say that, i in no way mean that we don't care about each other...quite the opposite.  We just no longer move in the same circles anymore.  For years, we communicated with each other every day via text.  And we saw each other 2 to 3 times a week.  Once he got back into the dating scene, that all changed.  i'm glad he's dating and i really do like his boyfriend.  But, that caused him to move into a social bracket of wealthier professional gays that does not include Michael and i.  That's ok, in the long run.  We can't help that we're poor LOL  It does make me miss him though.  We've gone from frequent weekly visits to less than once every two months.  And that makes me sad.

It reminds me of something Mom once told me about some of hers and Dad's friends.  When they were first married and living in Bethel, NC, they had another couple that they had become good friends with.  This friendship lasted for 15-16 years or so.  They had a daughter who was my age and we got together every now and then.  It was always fun.  Then, one night, my parents were invited to go out to dinner with this couple and their friends.  And their friends were now on the wealthy end of the social spectrum.  Apparently, wherever they were going, it was definitely upperclass like a country club or a private supper club.  Mom, choosing comfortability over social "norms", wore pants instead of a long skirt or dress.  As a result, all of the women in the party snubbed Mom and she spend most of the evening with Dad and the other men.  We never saw them again....not even when she died.  That makes me sad too.

i hate how things change sometimes....but, such is life.  Oh well.

Recipe of the week - Pig Picking Cake

I was first introduced to this cake by Rosi Dingman.  Once, while on a visit, she served it for dessert.  i told her how much i enjoyed it and she sat down with me and gave me the recipe.  It's quite easy, but tastes so delicious.  Enjoy!

Pig Picking Cake

1 box Duncan Hines butter cake mix
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
1 8oz container of Cool Whip
1 11oz can mandarin oranges (do not drain)
1 large can of crushed pineapple (drained)
1 3oz box of instant vanilla pudding

Mix cake mix, oil, eggs and oranges together until well blended.  Pour into four 9" cake pans.  Bake at 325 for 20-25 min.  Cool.  Mix pineapple and pudding.  Add Cool Whip.  Ice cake.

i do 3 layers instead of 4 like she did.  And if you can't find butter cake mix, regular yellow cake mix works as well.  i like it best when it's had some time to sit in the fridge and chill!

thought for the day

After having a nice time at the beach, doing a lot of thinking about life and finishing a very helpful book, i'm going to work very hard not to be the same person i was last week.  i don't want to fall into the same traps and routines that i always do just because it's easy.  i realize that i'm not getting off to a great start because i got up this morning, brewed my coffee and sat and worked a crossword puzzle while listening to NPR.  Oh well.  Still, i've got all day to work on switching a few things up.  Wish me luck!

thought for the day

We're heading out to the beach later today to spend a few days with the family.  i must admit that i'm very much looking forward to the time away from work and spending some quality time with loved ones.  It makes me think back to all of the beach trips my family took when i was growing up.  Those really were such wonderful times and i have great memories from those trips.  Now i'm looking forward to making new memories over the following week.

i'm going to take this opportunity, while being away from my everyday existence, to do a little emotional and physical detoxing.  This is going to be the perfect opportunity to try to quit smoking again.  Yes, i fell off that wagon and it's time that i got back on.  My body is seriously telling me to change, so it's time that i start listening to it.  i need to reclaim what it is like to exist without my vices, so wish me luck.  It will be tough, i know, but it's something i need to do and something i want to do.

And i just need to clear my head of all it's clutter.  i realize that that will take more than a few days, but this is just as good as any time to start.  We shall see how it goes!