Hello Spring

If you live in a part of the country where old man winter has over stayed his welcome, and you're anything like me you are probably long over winter by now. I'm so over it, in fact I would actually love to get my hands on that groundhog.

I know my complaining about winter taking too long to get on out of dodge is nothing new, but seriously this winter was taking this whole "out like a lion" thing a little bit too far. Us folks on the east coast had the pleasure of being bombarded by not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Nor’easter’s in a row this year. Which does not make for a happy Greek Girl if you know what I
mean.

So instead of working on learning the new music a colleague sent me to learn for a new project we're working on like I had planned to do. The Mr. and I spent nearly the entire month of March cleaning up the mess that one of those lovely Nor’easter’s left behind. We are thankful it was not worse, but it did leave a big impact nonetheless and loads of fun and follies for us to deal with.

It all started on March seventh, everything was pretty much shut down due to the impending storm. The Mr. was off from work and so we decided to go play in the snow. We put our snow gear on and went for a long walk in the afternoon. No big deal, it was beautiful, we took some photos and came back inside to get some lunch. We sat down turned on the news to see all the power outages across the northeast. Then it happened, we heard a "boom" and then the TV went dead, and all the power went off.

The Mr. & I playing in the snow before the muckery began.

I looked out my window and a branch had taken out the transformer on the pole by our house.  This transformer just so happened to supply power to our entire street. So the next thing you know all our neighbors are outside talking to each other asking if everyone has power or not. So then the Mr. decided we best go get a generator just in case the storm turns out to be as bad as the weather channel had predicted. Good thing he did. We jumped in the Jeep and arrived at Lowe's just in time.

 He literally got the last of the two generators they had in stock. He got it just as two guys walked up wanting to buy two. Luckily he already had one of them on his cart, so we got it. So we got home, and after about an hour of the Mr. doing a bunch of rigging with a flashlight, extension cords from the major appliances all over the house... voila we had power. Archaic as it was, it was power all the same.  It was dark by then and the furkids (three dogs and two cats) were all looking at us like the world was ending.

So then we settled in to have dinner and hunker down for the night. I was starving by this time and wanted to eat. The Mr. on the other hand thought he should go snowplow the driveway instead. I was too hungry to wait for that to be over, in fact I was getting a bit on the "hangry" side, so I insisted that we eat first, and then he could go clear the driveway. There is a lesson to be learned here... men always listen to your woman.

So we got dinner ready, sat down to eat listening to SiriusXM on my phone when all of the sudden we hear another boom coming from the other end of the house. Only this time is it so loud it shakes the entire house. I'm thinking, "Oh boy this doesn't sound good". We went outside to find his Jeep buried underneath a gigantic more than fifty-year-old tree. Had he not given in and let me eat dinner before he went outside, he could have been in that spot and not the car. See he had planned to move the Jeep and that is where he would have started clearing the driveway, ov vey!

Thankfully he listened to me and it was the Jeep under that tree and not him. Then came the four days without power, and seven days without Internet and TV. Then the glorious task of dealing with the cleanup of the mess the storm made. See this tree that fell, it was in a bundle of four trees. So when the one went, it caused the entire bundle to be compromised. It left two of the remaining three leaning so far out to the side they were almost sideways being held up only by another tree.

 

So we had to get a bunch of tree people to come in to estimate the cost to remove them. Along with figuring out with the insurance who was going to pay to get the tree off of the car so the adjuster could come survey the damage. Who knew if a tree falls on your car the auto insurance does not pay to remove the tree. See, you really do learn something new every day, even in a Nor’easter.

After a few days we worked it out and found the Jeep had in fact been killed that night. Then came the fun task of replacing it. So we immediately got on cars.com and started running all over the Tri-State NY/NJ/CT area to find another certified used Jeep with all the stuff he had on his with low miles, yes, good times for sure. Not really because anyone who knows me knows I would rather stick needles in my eyes than go car shopping. Who also knew that in NYS when a car is deemed a total loss you only get five days of rental reimbursement. Again, more learning going on for the noggin here in this situation.

Jeep murdered by Winter Storm Quinn
and replacement Jeep. Thank you cars.com

Then came the wrecking crew we hired to remove the remaining trees that were in danger of hitting the house. See after years of trees falling every time a hurricane or major storm comes along it was time to just get them out of the way. So the same day we picked up the replacement Jeep, we had a crew here taking trees out like nobody's business, I bet they could even give Paul Bunyan a run for his money.

It worked out in the end but by now, you can imagine I was and am ready for spring. Heck I'd be happy to even skip spring and move straight to summer. I will not complain about having to have the air conditioner on all the time. I will not complain about how hot it is. I will instead savor drinking iced cups of happiness all dang day long, and enjoy my flip-flops as long as Mother Nature will allow summer to stick around.

Why does it always seem like summer goes faster than winter does?

Hope you enjoy your day not matter what the weather is.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

National Coffee Day

A little taste of my coffee brewing collection.

National Coffee Day... what exactly does that mean? Well for coffee addicts like me that means once a year we get to show up at coffee joints around the country and get a free cup of joe. Seriously though if you didn't know about it, yes there is such a thing as a "National Coffee Day", and yes some chains and local coffee houses are offering a free cup of coffee to celebrate.

Most people who read my blog if they know anything about me (besides the fact that I'm Greek) they know this one thing, I love love love love love coffee. This makes perfect sense of course because we Greek's perfected the art of coffee drinking, along with inventing  drama (acting), politics, and the windex. I laughed out loud when I visited Greece one time and on a tour of a park near the Acropolis the guide told our little group that Greek's invented drama and politics. I was thinking to myself "so that explains why I'm an actor (besides a recording artist) and highly opinionated about politics." 

The art of coffee drinking masterfully blended with drama can be wittnessed at any Greek Diner. I can almost guarantee you that somewhere in there is a table full of Greek's chatting away full of passionate talking and hand gestures. So I guess the genes carried on in Greek Girl because ever since I can remember I have loved coffee. I love the smell of it brewing, I love the taste of it, and the feel of a cup in my hands. No it doesn't help me to write better songs, or remember my lines, I just like it. What can I say? Everyone has something. Besides there have even been studies that suggest it is good for your bones/health so that's a thumbs up in my book.

Now I do have my favorites and it really depends on the day, time or situation as to what kind of coffee I'm in the mood for. My absolute favorite hot coffee ever is Dunkin Donuts. Second is McDonald's, yes they have very good coffee, and the best part is a large is only $1.08 - can't beat that!  My favorite iced coffee is Starbucks. At home I have all kinds of ways to enjoy a good cup of joe, I have a Keurig, where I can brew my Dunkins. There's also a regular drip coffee pot, a french press and one of my personal favorites my Nespresso Espresso Machine. If you've never had a Nespresso I highly suggest finding a store near you and going to get a sample cup. It brews the espresso at the optimun tempature so the taste is always perfect, and they are known for the creme on the top, it's just perfect! Nothing else to be said. Another little treat I got turned onto while visiting  Greece was Nescafe'. Yes I did just say that I like instant coffee. See in Greece it is very popular (so much so that they even sell these at McDonald's there), iced Nescafe'. It's Nescafe' in a large cup, milk, half and half, or both and sweeten to liking. Then you have a Yummoliscious iced cup of happiness!

No matter what your favorite cup of happiness is, today is the day to think about how something so simple can bring a little happiness and smile to your face. Stop by your favorite place to get one and think of all the other coffee lovers out there who love it just as much as you do. I know that participating Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's are offering a free cup, for any other places that are just check online. So raise your cup and happy sipping!

Here's to celebrating hot cups of happiness all day long!

Blessings, Love, and Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Hijacked

Punkin Aston here to ask you to help me

This is "Punkin" and I am about to flip my little lid.

If you don't know what I am talking about then it's time you were brought up to speed.  Here is what happened last year:

See what I mean?  Every single stinkin' year my mommy, Miss Ava-Aston, the so-called-self-proclaimed-doggie whisperer thinks it's a good idea to dress me up in a torture device.

What am I talking about?  It's simple really.  She thinks it's a good idea, no she thinks its a fabulous idea to ruin my dignity and embarrass me and all my doggie-siblings by putting us in ridiculous Halloween Costumes.  The worst part is, this year she is taking it one step further.

Now hear me out, I am all for a bit of fun now and again but this is just beyond torture.  Instead of just dressing us up one time for our routine march of shame, she decided to "try out" the costumes on us first.  What I don't understand is why she always thinks of me as a bug.  I am always getting dressed up to look like a stinkin' bug.  I am not a Bug or a Pug, I'm a Pekingese Dang'it!

Still not sure what I am talking about...?  Well here is the evidence:

Caught RED-HANDED buying the torture devices

See what I mean? She dressed me up to make fun of me.

For the love of God someone please make her stop!

So as you can see, it's time something is done to help me from this kind of ongoing and inhumane torture.  If you have it in your heart you will help me stop my mommy from always doing these terrible acts on us doggies.  Thank goodness my little brother "Itty Bitty" is in Heaven now at the Rainbow Bridge... at least he doesn't have to be humiliated anymore in the torture devices.  However the rest of us remaining four Aston doggies  (me), Punkin, Pookie, Bobo & Pepe we need our mommy to be stopped!

Thank you,
Punkin Aston

Thank You Al Gore

Thank's Al. You're the best, no matter what people say.

So it's official (well sorta) that Al Gore the great and mighty inventor of the Internet has done it again.  What am I talking about? Well, in case you haven't been to the Northeast anytime recently it seems that, well based off the climate at least, that Al Gore has cured and fixed the Global Warming issue.  The problem is he did it just a little too much. Instead of balancing things out it seems he went slightly overboard.  Now instead of having a balance with all four seasons here in the Northeast we kind of have been having it all mucked up.  Goes in line with not having a balanced budget, so as a Democrat I guess in a way he's par for the course and since that's all Obama does is play golf it works for him.

Well since a little past this time last year we had the start to probably one of the most cold and miserable winters I can remember.  It went on and on and on so long I can't say I even remember having an actual spring. Then when it came to summer it was like we packed an entire summer's worth of heat into the month of July.  Then we skipped right into what is now and has been turning into an early and very wet autumn.  

Now, anyone who knows this Greek Girl knows I love Autumn more than any other season, but really?  With as many rainy days we had this summer and now this? Hey Al Gore, can you chill out or rather warm up on this whole global warming thing?  It's like you turned the thermostat to cold and broke the dang thing off.  For crying out loud, the only time I got to put my bathing suit on this year was for an audition.  Now that is bordering on sacrilegious considering I never put my toes in any hot sand once this year let alone go swimming!!!!  What's even more is I can count the number of iced Dunkin donut coffee's I have had on one hand.  Which as you know is just bizarre in itself since last year I had like 20 of them every week!

So for this weeks blog I want to focus on my favorite things about the fall since it's coming so early and well at this pace if I don't act now before long I will be buried up to my eyeballs in snow drifts.  God knows, if there is one thing this Greek Girl hates more than the current occupant of the White House is too much white stuff on the ground.  No matter how pretty it is, it is dang cold and me and cold just don't mix, no matter how much olive oil I get in my veins!

1. Pumpkins.  Not only did I name one of my dog's Punkin' but one of my favorite things in the whole world is punkin flavored anything: coffee, donuts, pie, cookies and punkin rolls!!  

2. Foliage.  If you have never been to the Northeast you have got to come in Autumn.  The magic of watching the trees turn color is one of the most amazing things that you never get sick of even after living here all your life.

3.  Hoodies (aka zip up sweatshirts).  Yes I do wear them almost every day of the year, but I do it all the more in the fall.  They are so much fun, cute and they keep me warm.  Besides I have like 2000 of them, I have to do something with them right?

4. Back to school.  You are too old for school and have no kids Greek Girl?  I know, but that means all the rug-rats that run rampant around town are back in school and I don't have to be bothered by them :) j/k I loooooove kids...  But no really, it just means Kohl's is running serious sales and clearance sales like mad.  So bring on the clearance rack please!!!

5. Running.  Not only is it the best feeling in the world when you go for a long run but when you have the crisp autumn air and the foliage to go with it, never mind doing it at magic hour in the fall, is just an amazing thing for me.  Besides, it is just one more reason I can wear my sneakers more.

So there you have it.  My favorite things about this time of year, that is unless Al Gore gets the bright idea and reverse things again and muck's things up more.  You know, if you ask me, maybe since he is so full of hot air trying to explain how he invented the internet that maybe that is what started the whole global warming thing anyway.  Oh well, one will never know.  Enjoy your punkin pie and have a blessed and safe Autumn.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo :)
www.avaaston.com

True Story

This is what a Fur-kid in the midst of a nervous breakdown due to Thunderstorm looks like...

Did you know that some fur-kids turn into little gremlins during thunder storms? Neither did I.  And I thought I knew everything there was to know about fur-kids, being that I have five of them.  See when I was growing up my mom had a boarding kennel, as well as raising and showing Collies and Sheltland Sheepdogs (which looks like a Miniature Collie for anyone who doesn't know what one is).

Those who have been reading my blog a while may remember that back in the fall the Aston doggie clan grew by one when we rescued "Pepe" from the Harlem Kill shelter in NYC.  We were supposed to just be "fostering" him for the local Pekingese Rescue where one of my other fur-kids "BoBo" came from until he could find a forever home.  That was until we went there and jail-broke him from the shelter and I scooped him up in my arms. We saw how abused and scarred he was.  We could not let him go and decided to keep him.  No one in their right mind was going to put up with his biting, trust and other issues.  It wasn't his fault his previous owner was a moron and hurt him.  He needed someone patient to help him work through all his little quirks.  So WE meaning me decided the only way to keep him safe was to keep him.  Then I had to tell Mr. Aston "honey we're getting another dog".  Meanwhile who could blame him for thinking about how to put me in the trashcan along with all the five fur-kids.  Just kidding.

Since then it's been a long seven months, and at times we call even him "Pepe-Laden" if you get my drift... Most of the bad behaviors are gone, although he does slice and dice a finger or two when he's in the mood.  He has never bit me though, ever.  Just last week he even went after the neighbor because he does not like cigarettes and the neighbor was smoking while making sudden movements towards him.  Which is not the smartest thing to do especially since we told our neighbor about the situation multiple times.  "Pepe" had burns all over his little body on him when we got him, from the shape they were we suspect they was cigarette burns.

Anyhow little "Pepe" has made miraculous strides and most of the time he is a happy little mush who just wants to be loved and safe, play with his toys and sleep.  Well durning this rash of wacky weather, our area has been hit with some monster thunderstorms lately.  So picture this, I'm in my office one day doing some social media drinking a hot cup of happiness a la Dunkin's when "Pepe" decides he is going to hide from the rain and thunder noise on top of the shredder of all places.  I pull him off, once, twice, three, four... and on we went.  After about the tenth time he jumped off and decided it would be a good idea to chase me around the office biting at my feet.

I was wearing shorts and flip fops so I was rightly concerned he might actually get me, so much so that I had to plop a chair down in between us to stop him.  I then ran out of my office yelling like a little girl and shut the door.  I'm standing there on the other side of the door thinking to myself "Greek Girl what in the heck in the world are you doing?!?! - you're a grown adult and you're letting a little 14lb dog boss you around".  Meanwhile before I had ran out, "Punkin" was sitting there looking at this whole thing like "this is total Muckery".  BTW all the other four fur-kids were left on the other side of that door with "Pepe-Laden".

So I marched back in there and told him I was not having any of it... then I drugged him.  Yes - I did.  I gave him a "Composure" chew.  No not real drugs silly... I would never do that.  Composure is a natural supplement that contains the active ingredient Thiamine (Vitamin B1) and some other ingredients which promote "balanced behavior" in dogs.  As well as help to calm anxiety.  He was so unhinged I gave him a whole one, the dosage for a big dog.  Sure enough he "calmed down" and went to sleep until the storms passed.

Moral of the story... give "Pepe" a composure "before" storms come next time.  And that my friends is why Greek Girl is not afraid to drug her dog if she needs to.  Remember to get yourself some "Composure" in case your fur-kids get skitzo during a storm.  Hope you have a beautiful day!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xox
www.avaaston.com

The Taxman Cometh

One for You and 19 for me... Kind of sounds like someone we know, dontcha think?

What?... I can't be the only one who waited until the very last minute to do my taxes.  I know this may be a surprise since I don't really seem like the kind of person to put things off until the eleventh hour.  Miss workout every day, eat healthy, super organized...  Well what can I say, Greek Girl needs to get an Accountant Minion.

A What?... you heard me, an Accountant Minion.  Before I can do that though I need to sell a lot more CD's and iTunes downloads.  Oh yeah and book some more acting jobs.  No wonder I wait until the last minute to do my taxes.  So many different things to enter in and they make it so stinking complicated.  Remember... Greek is another word for "Thrifty" :D So I do my taxes the way any thrifty Greek Girl would - do them myself with H&R Block Premium Business.

See it all started when we decided to start an LLC for entertainment stuff.  Well little did I know that would lead to a big fat Muckery Sandwich.  In order to even do your personal taxes you need to do the LLC first to get a Schedule K form, to use when you do your personal taxes.  So after all kinds of searching and phone calls I found that H&R Block's Premium & Business has the Schedule K form that I needed... one small problem.  They don't make the H&R Block program for Mac, it's only available for PC.  So what do I do?  Borrow my moms PC laptop of course :D Only thing is mom lives three hours away, Good thing I have a good mom!  she met us half way to let me borrow it!

Kinda makes you appreciate that song from the Beatles "Taxman".  Now don't shoot me but I've never really been much of a Beatles fan.  I mean there are a few songs I like, and "Taxman" is one of them.  A very clever song I have to say.  Really, think about it:

"Taxman"

(1, 2, 3, 4 Hrmm! 1, 2.. 1, 2, 3, 4)

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
Cos I'm the taxman, 
yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet

Taxman!
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

Don't ask me what I want it for (Aahh Mr. Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more (Aahh Mr. Heath)
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

And you're working for no one but me
Taxman!

So with all this work to get our taxes done "on time" and make sure we're all paying our "Fair Share"... Kinda makes you wonder huh?  Just think and this was written way back in the 1960's.  Imagine what the lyrics might be like if it were written today. ;D Hope everyone got the Taxman off their back for another year in time!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com

Cancelled

Good grief, No No No, This Show Wasn't Cancelled, Thank God!

Dang it...  I woke up this morning to find out the breaking news that The Kathy Griffin Show was cancelled.  I can't figure out why in the heck Bravo would decide to cancel such a great example of what's not funny, vile, obnoxious, and just plain ugly behavior in a television show?

Seriously though in my humble Greek opinion this is a good thing.  Especially when Bravo has a whole lot of actual funny TV shows to compete with.  What do I consider good comedy on TV?  Hello AETV of course!

What can compete with Duck Dynasty and Storage Wars?  Now That is good TV, and not only is it funny, but it isn't highlighting a mean nasty person making fun of people and cursing the entire show.  (Hmmm maybe just a thought for your next show idea Bravo)  Between those two shows it's a wonder I can get anything done around my house.

What's not to love about Duck Dynasty?  You have a show about a family that built a business into a Million Dollar empire, a good old fashioned success story.  Like every family it's full of characters... mix in that they are a family of hillbilly characters trying to work together.... and you get a whole lotta funny.   Not only all of that but they embrace family values, and God.  Wow what a concept... anyone hear of that before.  I mean I know almost every other media outlet is busy banning the word to make sure we don't offend anyone... but Duck Dynasty not only stands up on their values and convictions and makes us laugh while they do it, they end every episode gathered around a meal as a family in prayer with their heads bowed.  We have a word for this in Greek.... Kudos! ;D Reminds me a little bit of a show from days gone by "The Walton's" if I'm not mistaken it was quite a successful show... just sayin.

Then there is my other guilty pleasure "Storage Wars".  What's so great about Storage Wars.... Well first off it doesn't have Kathy Griffin on it.  No seriously it's about getting a good deal on a storage locker that's possibly filled with treasures the cast can sell and make a profit on.  HELLO this is a perfect combination!  Remember I'm Greek which is another word for "thrifty" ;D  The show is just plain addicting.  You just never know what they are going to find in the lockers, and the cast is always wrapped up in the middle of some drama between each other.  From Barry's crazy getups and schemes and plots to distract the other buyers to Daryl's Sheets's constant "That's a $20, $30, $40 dollar bill right there" every time he picks up some odd ball item he's found in his locker.  I laugh so hard sometimes my stomach hurts.

So the moral of the story, what's the magic formula for a hit TV show?  Don't put Kathy Griffin or for the Love of God the Kardashian's in it.  Have a smile & a beautiful day!

Blessings,
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com

Change of Heart

Have you ever changed your mind?

Well maybe it has something to do with the fact that I came down with what feels like the bubonic plague two days before Easter and spent the better part of Easter Eve in the Walk In... I dunno, but whatever it is, I sure did wake up feeling different today.

Maybe it's the combination of the antibiotics, the inhaler, the Mucinex/Delsym for the chest congestion & couching, the Sudafed (to dry the fluid in my ears) the zinc lozenges, emergenC powder, the humidifier... all to treat the magic combination of Laryngitis and Bronchitis I have come down with.  All while being out of town visiting my mom for Easter (did I mention that part)?

So when I woke up I just had such a different take on things than I used to.  Normally I drink coffee all day long just about, and the day does not start until I have had a cup of Dunkins.  Not today... I wanted Green Tea.  Usually I watch Fox News, but today I started flipping through the channels and stopped on MSNBC, and you know what, I kind of liked it.  Now I know you guys might think I fell off my rocker when I tell you this but when I heard them talking about Obama and all the great things he is doing for our Country, I got to thinking... you know I don't think he's really that bad of a guy after all.

The next thing I usually do is workout, but today I just didn't feel like it.  You know what, I kind of liked it.  It felt great to not "have" to workout.  Then I went on my facebook page and I saw all the equals signs in my newsfeed, and it got me to thinking again... maybe they have a point.  Why can't gays get married?  I mean who are we to decide what God meant when he gave the Ten Commandments anyways?  I mean after all that was how many years ago?  Whose to say he hasn't changed his mind?

Then I decided I wanted to hear some music and so I went to iTunes wanting to try something different and downloaded a Beyonce CD.  You know what... it was flipping Awesome!  I don't know why I never cared for her before... I can't believe I used to say that when she sang she sounded like a dying dead screeching off key cat.  Then someone emailed me a video from this week's American Idol episode and I said what the heck, I'm going to click on it.  Now I'm hooked, I think that show is brilliant!  It's just too bad I'm too old and can't sing good enough to get on it.

After a while I felt like going outside for a bit of fresh air, and it occurred to me that Global Warming is so dangerous.  That Al Gore was so smart to alert us all to the horrors that are Global Warming and even the snow here in upstate NY is melting...  We really should do something about this, I mean make some more strict laws to protect the environment... Dontcha think?

By now if you have not figured out that Greek Girl is playing a Humungous April Fools joke on you, then I m sorry for scaring you. No worries people, your favorite Greek Girl next door is still a Bible loving, Gun Rights Supporting, Constitution defending three percenter.  So if you ever hear me talking like that then either I fell down and hit my noggin Real Hard... or I got kidnapped and brainwashed.  Either way, hope you have a happy April Fools day!  Now lets pray Old Man Winter has died for the last time this year!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xox
www.avaaston.com

Christmas Muckery

All I want for Christmas is - people to stop acting like the world is going to end!

I know this is "supposed to be" the season of peace, joy, love and giving - yadda, yadda.  Well, for some reason some people in my neck of the woods sure didn't get the memo.  I don't know if it's the economy, Hurricane Sandy or that Obama is still the president and either some people are pissed and others are still high on wacky weed and claiming residency in Colorado but still living here or what.  All I know is that little thing known as "The Christmas Spirit" sure has been missing round here.

What am I talking about?  Well, let's put it this way, I was quite literally accosted the other day while walking into the post office.  Yes you heard me right.  Picture this.  My sweetie drops me off with arms full of packages and cards to be shipped when all of a sudden a guy in a large SUV starts backing up and almost hits our car.  Next thing you know he's jumping out of his car screaming at us and calling me everything under the sun.  For those of you who know me, you'd be proud to know I just sat there and grinned while I waited for my sweetie to come back and join me to get in line.  But then this jerk decided to jump in my face and almost knock me over while calling me the "C" Word.  Then I flipped and had to do something ( I mean he was an inch from my Greek noggin and flailing his arms in the air like he was going to hit me...)  So I kicked him in the shin of course, he had it coming and besides I had to get him away from me.  I mean what in the Heck in the World is wrong with people?!?

All I know is Christmas is not what it used to be.  Sure, I'm not a kid anymore but really, when did Christmas become all about ruining Thanksgiving and starting 24 hour shopping hours before the turkey was even carved?  Don't forget the week-long black friday and cyber monday deals, X-Box lines and Neimen Marcus at Target?  Seriously, this is insane!!  Who in their right mind cares about Neimen Marcus at Target?  Anyone who waited in line overnight to buy a Marc Jacobs glitter purse from Target needs to get their head checked.

It's like you would think the world were coming to an end and they had to get the last deal of their life.  Newsflash - the Mayan's were wrong people!!!  Get over it already.  Life will go on regardless of if you get that Nook or Kindle.  This just begs the question, Where is the fire?  It's like there are a bunch of mind-numb robots on crack driving like they are in a Nascar race in the Target Parking lot.  Which is what caused my mom to blurt out in frustration, "What is with these stupid Christmassholes!?!?"  Which caused me the Greek Girl to choke on my coffee and nearly get in a car accident; yes another one!  That would be the last thing I needed this Christmas.

So this Christmas we are in protest of this nonsense and how chaotic and out of touch everyone is.  Instead of a Christmas wish list and musically choreographed Christmas lights we decided to not put up a tree or do any sort of decorating.  Instead we are just spending time with family and remembering to stay away from the muckery at the malls.  But most of all, we are keeping in mind the most important thing, that JESUS is the "REAL REASON" for the season people.

In the meantime if you want something to help put a smile on your face and break the monotony of the Christmas muckery, here is the "Ava The Diva" Christmas Cartoon episode for your viewing pleasure.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

The Reason For The Season

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."

Christmas is only sixteen days away... Yikes!  Normally I love to decorate and usually start before December rolls around.  However thanks to an unusually large dose of muckery in the last year, Greek Girl has decided to go Grinch this year and not decorate.

I know what you're probably thinking, "whatchutalkingaboutwillis - not decorate for Christmas - that's sacrilege" well maybe not that exact phrase, but maybe something like it.  Well before you go imagining a mean old Greek Girl - it all started when my sweetheart and I were rear ended just over a year ago by an SUV who was going about 50+mph while we were stopped at a stop light (in a vw jetta I might add).  Wasn't fun as you can imagine, has resulted in multiple surgeries for my honey, and multiple herniated disks for both of us.  To make matters more interesting, just as we had started heading towards the upswing from the first accident, we were rear ended again in late March.  I did warn you there has been a whole lotta muckery going round the Aston house this year.  Did someone put a curse on me or something?... hmmm starting to wonder)

As if we didn't have enough going on, the Pekingese Rescue where we got our beloved "Bobo" from called in early October asking if we could foster a Pekingese needing to be jail broke as we call it from the Harlem Kill Shelter in NYC.  Ever since, Pepe-(laden) as we like to call him has been wreaking havoc around here.  He and BoBo act like they are UFC Fighters.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Yes you do see five dogs. Notice little Pepe' Laden dressed in the back as a "jail-bird".

Speaking of decorating, just as we were about to decorate our fur kids for Halloween, Hurricane Sandy decided she would have a party with Paul Bunyan in our yard along with practically everyone else's yard in our area.  Seriously it looks like they had a drunken brawl out back, and during the storm a giamungo tree fell onto our house and deck.  It left a hole in the roof, and the deck partially destroyed.  It was fun, no heat, no water (as we have a well) and five fur kids, two of which want to kill each other... lol

Needless to say there has been a lot of cleaning up to do.  I also have a tendency to let my HGTV genes takeover at times, and since we've been doing so much clean up, I have also painted, and rearranged, a bunch of rooms.  Add into the mix trying to keep up with auditions for acting and continue to work on my music the entire time.  Sometimes things just have to be pushed back, and you know what - that is OK.  With all of this I just decided that with only a few weeks left before Christmas it is silly to decorate this year.

Christmas Past with the Aston Doggies (pre Pepe' Laden)

I mean of course I will decorate the dogs and yes even little "Pepe- Laden" since he is still with us until he finds an approved foster home through the rescue, or he and Bobo decide they can get along and he stays with us forever.  Either way, Christmas is not about the Tree, or the decorations.  At the end of the day it is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Having your heart filed with the true miracle of Christmas and with the love of Jesus is what it's all about.

So call me Grinch if you like but hey, everyone needs to take time to rest and relax.  It sure has been one heck of a year or so for us here, but I know that God is in control.  With Jesus on my mind and in my heart, I know that the next year will be better than the last.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava :D xox
www.avaaston.com

You Decide

So, which do you think is healthier?

So if things weren't bad enough that I had to skip my work out for almost 3 days but then I  found myself debating with my husband over which was more healthy, McDonald's or Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  I know what you are thinking... and no I did not hit my head, not this week at least.   But I did break down and yes in case you were wondering, it was Yummo.

Let me set the stage for you (this was an actual conversation).  We were out running errands and of course the Martha Stewart in me had to change things up in our house.  Because truth be told, I have a little OCD and nothing bugs me more than my house being out of order, or just blah.  I can't be creative when it is, and once I get too much HGTV into my Greek noggin, the "I have to paint this room or change that rug" urge kicks into high gear.  So, we were out at Home Goods (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a TJ Maxx to the 10th power only with stuff for your home).  It just so happens that Home Good's is in a plaza that is home to a brand spanking new McDonald's which sits across the parking lot from a Five Guys.  There we were, smack-dab in the middle of both of them and of course my husband who doesn't work out for months and still has a 6 pack says to me...

Keith
"Oh man, can you smell that? Those McDonald's french fries smell so good."

Me
Okay well, I'll make you a deal.

Keith
Oh...?

Me
"Yeah.  How about we get McDonald's for dinner and you stay out and help me pick out the paint, rug and new office chairs."

Keith
(Pointing)
"Okay.  But there is Five Guy's over there."

Me
"What?? Five Guys? Are you serious?"

Keith
"Yeah.  Think about it.  They are healthier."

Me
"How do you figure?"

Keith
"They have to be.  They cook all their burgers made to order.
They don't over process their food like McDonald's."

Me
"You think?  Hmm.  I wonder if they really are.  Maybe you're right.
Let's go there instead."

Keith
"For real?  You know you can't order a turkey burger there and they
don't have salads right?  Cuz I don't want to go in there and have you
ask for one Go Greek on me and then decide to go to McDonald's instead."

Me
"No, I know.  You are probably right anyway.  They probably are healthier.  Should we drive the car over or walk?  Probably walk."

Keith
"Why?"

Me
"Well, this way at least we can somewhat earn that burger."

No, that is not me eating a french fry at Five Guys. No way, I would never do that. I was at home working out when this photo was supposedly taken. ;D

Then we both strolled across the lot and past the golden arches right into Five Guys Burger's and Fries.  I felt like I was doing something so wrong but it kind of felt good.  Before I knew it I had actually ordered a cheeseburger with extra lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion.  We both shared some fries and a Coke.  No, not a Diet Coke either.  You know what the best part was?  I didn't even spontaneously combust, and I actually enjoyed it.  Which made me totally forget the question of which one was better or worse for you.  In the end they both were about the same and equal to some sort of junk food.  But who cares since I got to do it with my favorite person in the whole wide world.  Besides, like they say - everything in moderation.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com