Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Mom's Birthday


It's my Mom's birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this means she and Eddie will go out to a very nice restaurant in East Hampton tonight and the waiter will come over to the table and say, "Can I get you something to drink?"

Mom: Do you have wine?
Waiter: Yes, ma'am, we do.
Mom: How much is it?
Waiter: Well, that would depend on your selection....
Mom: How much is a glass of white wine?
Waiter: Well, our house chardonnay is $9.
Mom: $9???? How much is a carafe?
Waiter: Um, let me see if we 'do' carafes...
Mom: How much is a half a carafe?

and so on. Which is not a conversation you hear much in The Hamptons. 

But being frugal is practically ingrained in her DNA, thanks to my grandfather, who once brought my grandmother home a fur coat that he found at the dump. He was perplexed that she didn't want it.

I can still remember being sent on errands to the grocery store when I was a teenager to "return this fruit". "What should I say?" "Say it's just not very good!"

Anyway, small wallet, but big heart....this is for you Mom, Happy Birthday:

53 comments:

Natalie said...

happy birthday mom. sounds like a fun time. cheap wine and all!

kristin said...

Awww, how sweet. Happy B-day happy Mom!

Suburban Correspondent said...

A woman after my own heart...

Meg said...

A banjo-playing mom--how cool is that!! Happy B-Day.

Brittany said...

AWWWWW....Happy Birthday Mom!

justme said...

i would love to see that happen in the hamptons.....

Linda S said...

That was really nice! Never thought your blog would bring a tear to my eye! Lost my mom in 2001. Your mom looks like a real treasure!
Happy Birthday!!

sassy stephanie said...

OMgosh. That is too funny!

Happy Birthday mom!

LuckyMe said...

Awww...nice pictures, cool mom. I see where you get your good looks. Happy Bday, Mary!

jill jill bo bill said...

Absolutely wonderful!! And she probably has more money than Bill Gates. It's always us poor folks that spend like there's no tomorrow...

Happy Birthday HMHH Mom!

Ali said...

Happy Birthday Sue's Mom! What a great video!

Heather said...

Happy birthday to your mom! There's nothing wrong with frugality, says the woman who is married to a serious penny-pincher....

Oh, and I also wanted to inform you I've thrown even more bloggy love your way - http://nobody-but-yourself.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-bling.html

Cheers!

Former Fat Chick said...

OMG return Fruit, I can't get over that...I can't think of a worse thing to do to a teenager! I will save this one and use on a special ocassion of the hairy bros!

Tenakim said...

a woman after my own heart! I return fruit, too! You look a lot like her!

Mama Dawg said...

Oh, wow. That was awesome!

Tiffany said...

Aww that was sweet. And your mom is so cute! Happy Birthday Mom!!

Gettysburg Mom said...

You are just the sweetest daughter ever! Happy Birthday to your Mom... and, um, don't be surprised if I steal 95% of that idea come June. :)

Jennifer said...

Hapy Birthday to your mom! Thanks was a sweet slideshow!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Mom! Hope she gets to enjoy a nice glass of wine.

Caroline said...

Your Mom is so cute! Happy Birthday! And cheers to cheap wine :)

Shieldmaiden96 said...

Your mom is beautiful. She's one of those 'getting older is all good if I can look like that' moms.

I Am Boymom said...

Dying laughing over the returned fruit thing! My sister would do something like that...I return clothing or toys, draw the line at fruit! Happy Birthday MOM!!!

Shelley said...

Awwww, happy birthday HHS Mom!!

Blessings From Above said...

What a great video. You and your Mom look so much alike...both GORGEOUS!

Happy Birthday to your Mom!

Rochelle said...

What a great tribute to your beautiful mom! Happy birthday mom! I'll toast to you with my wine tonight!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Mom! You should have ask how much the dandelion wine is.

scargosun said...

Too funny. I want her hair when I am her age.

Julie D said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful Mama!

Unknown said...

awwww I am such a fruga-lista that i can so relate...Happy Birthday to your BEAUTIFUL mom the photo montage was awesome

Miss Lisa said...

That is so sweet and funny all at once---happy b-day to your mom!

Allison said...

Absolutely priceless. Happy Birthday Mom!!

Insane Mama said...

Shes hot, tell her I said so. My family is the same, pinching pennies everywhere, even driving out of their way to get a deal on napkins

Danyele Easterhaus said...

i like ur mom...smart lady!

BacktoBarnwell said...

Okay, now I'm teary eyed---for true---. My parents put the F in frugal. More stories on them later, I guess. My dad used to fish at the dump for parts, and things that were broken that he could "fix." But, I guess it's true that they would not have the stability they have now, if we had kept up with "every tom, dick, and harry."HAPPY BIRTHDAY HHR'S MOM. YOU STILL LOOK GREAT!

Beth Cotell said...

Your mom sounds like a hoot!

Bar-b said...

beautifully funny post. I welled up...I am getting soft in my old age ;)

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

Happy Birthday! ROFLMAO @ the wine carafe conversation :-)

Anonymous said...

Dearest Sue --

That was the greatest birthday tribute - I loved it! Yes, you're right about my getting the gene for ... shall we say ... "parsimony" from my father (Depression days, remember...).

But hey! Lucky for you, you didn't inherit that gene! So get out there and buy some good stuff for your girlies!
Much love from Mom

jaime said...

Happy Birthday Sue's Mom!

very cute post...and may i say your mom is rockin it!


and i call that frugal- nothin wrong w/ dat!

The Nice One said...

How sweet! Happy BDay Mom!

Aleta said...

What a sweet post! Happy birthday to your Mom! I hope she made a wish!

Susan said...

It's my daughters birthday today, too!!!! I blogged about her today, as well. Elizabeth will grow up enjoying cheap wine, too!!!

McMommy said...

Happy Birthday Happy Hour Mom!!! I have to say a huge thank you.....without you, there would be no Sue. And without Sue, my life would be BORING!!!

A New Yorker said...

Hamptons eh? Jitney anyone? Can't say I can afford to hobknob with those folks but it was cool to know that is where your family is. you too?

Jenni said...

Happy Birthday to your mom! Virgos rock!

Aracely said...

What a beautiful mommy you have, Sue. I bet she could get away with returning some fruit, I'd probably get it thrown in my face! Happy Birthday Happy Hour Mom.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

This must be so common in our senior citizens. My mom is the same way, she has the money, she just doesn't want to let go of it!

amelia bedelia said...

happy birthday to your mom! loved the video!

Mona said...

Sending Happy Birthday wishes to your beautiful and blessed Mom!

Lisa-licious said...

OK, I am crying. How amazingly touching. Your mom must be so proud of you...did you tell her you are someone's blogger idol?! Also, I think you need a better profile photo. It does NOT do you justice! Those dark glasses hide your beautiful eyes! I can shoot you one if you are ever in my area...

BusyDad said...

That was awesome! Happy B-Day to Happy Hour Mom. And she totally rocks because she plays the banjo. My buddy plays banjo and taught me some stuff. I try to rock.

t said...

Love this. Your mom is beautiful!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful thing to see. I remain one of your Mother's biggest fans.
mdb