The Letter V actually changed my life. Here is part 2 of a 2-part story about it. We established the greatness of Valentus, my morning favorite V-word. Next, journey with me into the evening with the letter V. Learn how a little bit of V in your life will benefit you too!
The Day Continues
Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…They’re Home!
Between 4:06PM and 4:30PM, the house is transformed into a…, well, a…. hmmm – a MADHOUSE. No, this is not meant to be a representation of my Madhatter’s Magnificent Market. Although, as the Madhatter of the household, it couldn’t fit better if the rabbit himself were here! First, a door opens. Then I hear a loud obnoxious shout or noise, an alarm of sorts coming from the vocal chords of my 11-1/2-year-old to announce his presence has returned. Bow, he’s royalty, type of thing!
A door slams, a backpack gets tossed on any random chair between the front door and his bedroom, and he begins rummaging through the refrigerator. Generally, he is right back out the door to see friends. Then, the remainder of the afternoon and early evening turns into a revolving door as if this is the community clubhouse. Shoes come off and for some strange reason, always end up under MY bed – stinky shoes! Very stinky shoes that need lots of foot powder!
Family Dinner – Not So Much Anymore
There was a time when we focused on the importance of having a family dinner together. Sitting down to the table and talking with one another about our day. But things have changed. Our family makes regular adjustments to the flow of caregivers, the unexpected needs of someone- always, and the above-mentioned revolving door of young pre-teen men with hollow legs. Extra family stopping by to say hello. And me, trying to make up for those extra hours that got lost when time flew by, working, making calls. Shhh…don’t say it out loud, but:
IS IT WRONG TO WANT TO WORK BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT?
If you aren’t asking yourself that question, you have been in the wrong place at the wrong time! Forget that business, leave that drama behind – get a hold of me, I will share with you what it’s like to be in the RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME! I can get you started on a journey that will forever change your life – and your income!
Our Gatherings
Since we don’t do much for family dinners, as I mentioned before, we order Food Delivery quite often. I have written a bit of a review you can check out too. But we still enjoy having a group gather for meals. The holidays have been a given, gathering with extended family but that isn’t enough. We hit some of the other seasonal holidays and then we hit the REAL HOLIDAY DAYS – Football Season! We are huge Boise State University (BSU) Bronco Fans. Bronco Nation, Baby! Each game has a themed dinner. I am trying to capture these to share with you on other pages within my Performance Blogging System. We have a lot of fun getting these together. Mr. Fortnite Alien Creature himself likes to see the “spread” (food) when its all set out in a help yourself buffet kind of manner. I also have some pointers for planning events for a group within my PBS – check here for event planning. (Check back for the football gatherings and dinners — they are coming soon!)
The Early-Mid Evening
Different Ways
Everyone is doing their own thing. In passing, we cover the basics, such as homework and any important events that have occurred throughout the day. Check backpacks for letters sent to parents, forms and such. In fact, just sent back forms for school picture day today. Hope they both smiled this year! Discuss chores needing attention. Cover what the plans are for the night and next day. Off we go to our separate ways. Everyone in a different room. Even when dinner has been plated and placed at the table, it’s happens as a grab-n-go.
Dinner Time for the Individuals in the Family
The Kids
I sort and hand out the Food Delivery order. My older son grabs and runs with it. Sometimes outside to eat. Against my wishes, he will take it to his bedroom to eat. The rest of the time, the living room is his dining area.
The care giver feeds my younger son. I have to monitor the eating to an extent. Determining my son’s body language when he likes or dislikes a food, his ability to chew a food, choking hazards, and whether he is still hungry or not. I observe by camera and interject as necessary.
The Adults – One Half
Next, I set up dinner at the table for my significant other. He is also disabled and likes to have dinner ready for him at the table. Although, he doesn’t usually come up to the table at dinner time. His ability to hold a utensil has diminished. His tendency is to hold up his whole elbow and swing his arm out to take a bite. This movement is awkward when sitting with others at the table and he doesn’t want to accidentally bump anyone. He prefers to sit down after everyone else has eaten and left the table.
He has Huntington’s Disease (HD). October is HD Awareness Month. It’s best described as a blend of the worst of Parkinson’s Disease, the worst of Alzheimer’s Disease and a Mental Health Disorder (anything from depression to schizophrenia). In the case of my significant other, he also has Schizoaffective Disorder. Combined, it makes for some interesting experiences and adventures. We are fortunate to enjoy laughter, humor and a lot of love! Not everyone is as blessed as we are in our situation.
The Other Half – Me
Think back to the beginning of this story about my favorite letter V and my beloved V words. I had just finished listening to a student call that happens every Tuesday night. Do you remember that? I know, it was awhile ago! It turns out, the best time I have to fit in dinner for me is while I listen to the calls. Of course, I am at the computer with the mouse at my side and on the ready to open, close, save or note anything I need to; pertaining to the call. However, I set up my space and take care of business and eat dinner.
Another Favorite Letter V Word – VINO!
Are you starting to wonder about my other darling word, Vino? Roll that V from your upper teeth into the middle of your lower lip. As if your teeth are marking the center of your lower lip turning your lip into the letter V. Say it with animated expression — vee, veee,VEEEEE…VVVVvavavaVEEEEE! Now, add the -INO (long e – no). VVVVvavavavaVVVVVV-VINO!
Start singing and dancing like it’s wine o’clock somewhere!
My Tuesday night call sometimes turns into an event when I pop the cork on a bottle of fine wine and have a glass of VINO with my dinner.
There are times and calls I don’t have a glass of wine with dinner. That’s when I save my wine for the wind-down. I wish I could say I wind down every night but sometimes there is enough work to do I just keep plugging away. Other times, the wind down is heavenly. I set all aside, close up shop, unplug, turn off and duck out. Then I retreat to my special space. A room we fondly refer to as the parlor. Reserved for adult conversations, mommy time-outs and all the other junk we can’t store in the house in a closet or drawer somewhere. Plus, the lawnmower, the snowblower, the leftover patio decking wood, the extra vertical blinds and all my holiday decorations. No television, no gaming console, in general, not a place for casual living and candy wrappers or soda bottles to be left behind! No stinky shoes either.
Vino Makes the World Go Round
I didn’t grow up with fancy wines. Primarily, the men drank beer. Periodically, my grandparents would have a bridge party and they served mixed drinks. Wine wasn’t in the picture much that I recall. But when I did see wine, they were these huge green glass jugs with a black screw cap on them. Burt and Ernie? No, maybe Ernest and Gallo rings a bell. I have no idea if the wine was red or white, sweet or dry, from the hills in California or the ravines in a foreign country. I knew when you went to church for communion, you got to taste wine. Wine represents the blood of Christ. As a child, I believed wine was Christ’s blood.
All these years later, wine is a prominent part of my life. Starting with my wine membership that delivers my wine to my door every month. Personally, I adore both red and white wines so have a mix shipped to me. But at any time, I can switch things around and get all white or all red. I receive 4 bottles each month. It is such a bargain. However, I am considering increasing it to 6 bottles. I can’t help it. My mom gets her 2 bottles of white wine a month and loves it. But I share my four bottles with guests and friends and have given bottles away to several people as well. My son’s whole baseball team went home with a bottle or more of wine last spring! And EVERYBODY loved the wines!
Vino Info QR Code
Another great feature of my wine club is with the wine shipments. On the bottles themselves is a QR code. Simply scan and learn about the wine profiles on the website. In no time at all, anyone can become knowledgeable about wine. These wine profiles tell you what to look for with the wine. Bold, smooth, fruity, sweet, dry, and more. And they provide suggestions for food pairings which works great when you have to pull off a nice dinner for friends or your spouse’s boss! Bonus – take a bottle of your fine wine from this wine membership club to the host of the next dinner party you attend! You will know where the wine came from, about the grape, the vineyard and more. Eyebrows will raise; and others will look to you for your wine tasting approvals – and they will be impressed with your wine too!
Get Your First Shipment on Order Right Away!
The Fortnite Alien Creature
Here I am, back to where this story all began. My student call just ended. I ate dinner while listening but hadn’t uncorked a wine. I still have one bottle of white wine and I am waiting for my next shipment. Last night, I finished a warm, smooth Argentinian Malbec. It was perfect on the palette! With a square of lasagna. I was a happy camper – a happy letter V lover – VINO!
Tonight, my son has caught me at the bewitching hour. Moments before wind down and a glass of wine. I am tired enough I am on the verge of silliness. And impatient enough I have no desire to continue to repeat myself or to listen to guttural sounds supposedly from other you tubers and gamers.
I repeat…Is This My Son?
Does he have a severe build-up of wax in his ears? When I repeated myself, did I say it out loud? Loud enough he could hear it? Has my son been abducted and this alien Fortnite creature with hair gel and a gimpy grin really is here just to mess with me?
After the Half-Way There
With my directions followed haphazardly by my son and not an ideal result, I once again take a deep breath and sigh. It’s not worth picking a battle over. You know, as a parent, you hear that a lot. “You have to pick your battles.” How about we just don’t battle?
Oh, I know – somewhere along the line we need to have at least one good battle. The battle where the teen hates the parent! The one battle to finally give a parent the stamp of approval they are doing their job well. The irony of that – the words “I hate you” means successful parenting.
Yet, I too, as a teen, verbally vomited those same words to my mother. Now, we are as close as we have ever been. We live just three minutes-drive from one another and talk nearly every day. My son has even spent the summer helping grandma mow the lawn. I suppose then, the plus side of all of this, my son will live near me and either mow my lawn for me…or send his own kid to mow it for me! Right?
I Made It to the End
On that note, for the moment, I choose not to battle with my son. I simply don’t care to listen to anymore noises. My frogger made it to the other side of the street and I am jumping the curb. I am ready for my Vino! In fact, Wine-Box – where is my wine-box — the whole box please – the box with real bottles of real fine wine in it!? My mood says time for Vino. The night time says time for Vino. Look below even for a few songs about Vino! Get yourself in the mood – mellow to a little bit of wine and music about wine. Tomorrow will bring a whole new day with a fresh cup of Valentus coffee.
VINO on My Mind
Now, for that glass of VINO! I have been waiting all day for this moment!
Finally, I am relaxing with a glass of red fine wine. A wine from heritage grapes grown in the top vineyards of the best classic winegrowing regions. Best served between 62-65 degrees. This is a sophisticated tasting wine, bold and beautiful. Notes of plum, leather, tobacco and vanilla. It is outstanding as my wind-down glass of red fine wine in my parlor. The info profile that came with this wine suggests pairing it with sweet smoky sauced and grilled meats or poultry. In fact, tomorrow’s meal plan is shredded pork street tacos. This Red Wine will be a wonderful partner and compliment to the pork flavored with cumin and coriander and smoked paprika. Yummy!
Note on the side: While I was enjoying my red wine, a good friend of mine was enjoying her white wine. She shot this picture and I just love it! It says everything about wine, relaxation and — wine o’clock somewhere!
My NEW letter V Word…
To my sons, both of them, alien or not, my significant other, the phone, the computer, the television, the neighbors, the friends, the cats – all three of them, I give you my new beloved letter V word – just for the evening. I will rise again with the snooze alarms, and start all over to see what wonders this Universe brings to me tomorrow – today, it has been many blessings and my new favorite letter V word:
V – A – M – O – O – S – E!
And the Final V Count is….?
Includes all letter V’s, Upper and lower case from Part 1 and Part 2 combined.
(Excludes pictures, Page titles and Closing from Other Articles to end of Page)
See the Link to the Answer Below!
OTHER RELATED ARTICLES
Next Article: The Letter V in the Morning; Part 1 – My Beloved V Words
Mom Wine Rituals Induced by Preteens Across America
MORE SONGS ABOUT WINE!
Paul Anka – Steel Guitar and a Glass of Wine
I remember hearing this playing in the background at my aunt’s house. She had Paul Anka albums. She played them on a record player built into a console. Pull the top of one side over to access the turntable. Pull the other side over for the album storage.
Frank Sinatra – Days of Wine and Roses
Maybe it’s me, but Sinatra? Mr. Smooth himself can sing to me anytime!
Charlie Walker – Who Will Buy the Wine?
For the honkey tonk soul — this is a great one!
Blood, Sweat and Tears – Spanish Wine Pt 1 – Spanish Wine Pt 2
Here is music straight out of the 70’s. Althought this is a LIVE performance from 1981 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Long songs. Part 1: Opening piano, then some phenomenal jazz saxophone – Part 2: lots of great bass guitar — snazzy jazzy!
The Who – Old Red Wine
Classic Who starts this one slow and builds up to the energy just as if they are in concert bringing everyone up to their feet by the end.
The Rolling Stones – Blood Red Wine
Recorded in 1968, it seems people speculate if this wasn’t a song that morphed into another song. Yet, the song suggested differs among opinions. It’s a mellow song from the Stones.
UB40 – Red Red Wine
This one is one that was real popular when I was in high school. That reggae beat.
If you have enjoyed reading any of these articles, please register your name and email address for new articles and other updates from my website, Madhatter’s Magnificent Market.
(For the Answer to the Final V count; visit this page and scroll to the bottom.)
Visit all our categories and pages of Madhatter’s Magnificent Market!
Return to the HOME PAGE to decide which category to shop next!
Response Magic