Cake, cake and more cake

Food - September not only kicks off the start of fall, it also starts our familys 6 month stretch of birthdays. How fun is that! Not that we need any excuse to have fun, mind you, but this is like a free pass to Disney World for kids and a trip somewhere exotic for the adults. Birthdays give us a time to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and with whomever we want. Why you ask? Cuz, it's my birthday - enough said! No one questions our motives, we all get the nod of approval as if it is a right of passage, and it is. Have you ever noticed how we drag our birthday on for weeks on end - all in the name of fun (and presents, pleazze.) The presents lend amnesia to our age. How old am I? Oh, look another present to open. We may forget other peoples birthdays (not on purpose of course) but we never forget our own and we make darn sure no one else does either. It is a day, week, month, all about me. Little ole, me. Oh, how we love ourselves.

Sprinkle a few anniversaries in there and you can smell love in the air, and yes, the smell of cake too! For those of you who know me, you know that it is not so much the cake itself, as it is the frosting that I love. White, sugary, yummy frosting or chocolate, silky, smooth frosting will do. None of that artificial whipped cream frosting that so many love (probably because it is lower in calories,) not me, it has to be the real thing.

All this talk of birthdays, anniversaries and fall brings me to "Autumn in New York!" What could be more fitting? " It was a couple of years ago, in the spring, that I went to New York with a local radio station here in Minneapolis/St. Paul, http://www.fm107.fm/ with the Lori & Julia show otherwise known as the "Drive Time Divas." 104 Women and 3 men boarded a plane bound for New York City for a long weekend of fun -- we had a blast! Hopefully they will be going again in Spring 2009, if you get the chance to go along - go - you will love Lori & Julia and Donny, their producer. Like David Letterman says at the opening of his show: "It's the greatest city in the world. We did a Sex and the City tour, Dinner at Chez Josephine's, Magnolia Bakery, Empire Building, Central Park, Shopping, and they did a live broadcast from Sardis restaurant with guests that included Dr. Joy Brown and Gossip Columnist Liz Smith (who by the way, looks amazing!) Although the group I was in didn't have any "celebrity sightings," some groups did. Here is a link for the New York Post on-line if you want to check out some recent celebrity sightings, or Liz Smiths column.
http://www.nypost.com/gossip/sightings/sightings.htm

I knew after that trip I had to bring my husband there, so this past August we went. How romantic, just the two of us, for a whole weekend. Since New York City is the place where my ALL-TIME favorite movie; "You've Got Mail" was filmed (with 2 of my favorite actors, I may add) my husband knew I was putty in his hands.

There are so many quotes from that movie I love, (I am a sap and a hopeless romantic) but this is one of my favorites. It is when Joe Fox, F-O-X, chats on-line with Kathleen Kelly and says: "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms."

This to me captures only part of the essence of fall in New York, there is so much more, but ah....talk about a hopeless romantic! Buying school supplies, sending bouquets of newly sharpened pencils and the mystery and charm of not knowing....who you might meet and fall in love with.

Fall is also a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am putting another link to http://www.fm107.fm/ go online and read a note from Kevyn Burger, a local radio host, who is a Breast Cancer Survivor, she has shared her journey with those of us fortunate enough to "know" her.

Dish - October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here is a link to The Oprah Show where her guests are Christina Applegate and Nancy Brinker; it will put a lump in your throat. I have also put a link for the Susan G. Komen site.
http://www.oprah.com/tows

http://ww3.komen.org/home/

Embellish - Breast cancer knows no gender, men get breast cancer too. Men, please do your self breast examine today.

To the love of my life, Happy Anniversary Danny!

~ Happy Birthday Amanda B. ~