Hope Blogger is working....it wasn't on Friday, the last time I tried.
We spent our first weekend at the shore and got home around 7:00. Chinese take-out for dinner....I wanted something very basic for a change, so I got sweet and sour chicken and chicken fried rice....a nice change from the spicy fare we usually order. That doesn't sound like much of a Mother's Day dinner, but we took care of that last night.
We went out to dinner last night, knowing we wouldn't be home in time for a Mother's
Day dinner.....besides there are better restaurants at the shore than here. We went to a restaurant that I have been going to all my life. A huge seafood restaurant with heavy wooden tables and chairs and LINEN NAPKINS......that excites me as we go to paper napkin places far more often. It's a bit pricier than even that best restaurants we go to, but is WAS a Mother's Day dinner! I had a whiskey sour....yeah, I know an old-fashioned kind of drink...but I do love them. This sucker was so strong and so big, I didn't think I would recognize what I was eating! Luckily I did recognize and appreciate the broiled stuffed flounder that I had for dinner, along with a stuffed potato and green beans almondine. We had a great evening.
It was fun to watch the kittens on their first trip to the shore house. They very obviously smelled Rooney. They hit all her favorite spots and sniffed and sniffed. They were so excited and scared that they ate nothing on Friday night.....and every little sound (it's noisier down there than here.....no trees to absorb sound) landed one or more of the cats in the window over my head as I was sleeping. By Saturday afternoon they seemed fairly used to the place and finally settled down and took some long naps.
Saturday was really hot.....hot enough for the beach.....but we didn't go. Brody and I can not go to the beach without going in the water...it is a physical impossibility. The water was only 52 degrees......60, I can do.....52.....forget it! So, when you can't go to the beach, you go shopping!! I bought this summer's pair of flip flops....30 bucks for rubbers soles and nylon straps.....but they are comfy. A new brand for me....Ocean Minded ......sucky website.....but I had to include it since the pics look like Brody! I also bought new food and water bowls for the cats. I just can't use Rooney and Casper's stuff, for some reason. I also bought new pillows for our bed.....I don't remember them being so flat last summer! I could barely sleep Friday night. I couldn't even bunch the old one into anything resembling a pillow!
Brody and I did take a walk on the beach today. I was amazed he left the Sixers game in progress to go with me. Marna was too busy playing with her friend, Billie.....and Mike was cleaning the house since it was Mother's Day. We walked in the water for about a half mile, it was so cold it hurt at first, but then we seemed to get used to it. .....until we stepped out of the water and tried to walk.....our feet were numb and tingly the water was so cold!
I hope this posts so I can wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day!!!
........missing you, Mom.
Sunday, May 13, 2001
Thursday, May 10, 2001
Just got back from the district-wide art show. I love seeing all the kids' work, from kindergarten to senior high. What's sad is you can see the difference in teachers by the artwork the kids do. Brody is extremely talented, but has had only one art teacher whom I would consider excellent. He had her in kindergarten and first grade. She 'got in trouble' for putting Brody in Gifted and Talented art when he was in kindergarten.....one isn't supposed to be in that until first grade. She stood her ground and continued to take him with the older kids in the school. Brody has gone through several art teachers....they seem to be switched from school to school frequently. Other than his first art teacher, I have not been terribly impressed. I can't wait until he gets into the high school art department.....they have an exceptional group of teachers up there and the work that comes from the students in the high school is quite impressive.
Brody had only two pieces in the art show this year. They were told to cut down on the displays....why, I don't know....but I think it is sad. I am sure many kids, especially in the elementary schools, were left out. Brody's G/T class made ceramic tea pots of their own design. Brody made a sneaker with sock teapot. The sock folded down over the front of the sneaker to form the spout. He said they tested them to see if they held water....they do, but Brody said his is a bit messy when poured! LOL His teapot was incredible and won first prize. I can't wait until he brings that home.....I plan on displaying it in our living room. He also did a pen and ink drawing of a scarab with intricate patterns on it. He won a second prize for that drawing. We are extremely proud of him!
Since I am already in kid bragging mode, I can't leave Marna out. We got a letter this week inviting us to the Academic Excellence Banquet because Marna has been selected for the second year in a row. This award is given to students who get all A's on their report card every marking period. The students' teachers select the recipients. Marna and another girl from her class are the only two from grade 3 in her school. Actually saying grade 3 is misleading. Marna attends an 'ungraded' school. She is in a 3rd/4th grade classroom. Chronologically and on the books she is a 3rd grader, but she has been working with the 4th grade half of her class since September. So her straight A report cards are in a grade higher. She is one smart little cookie. It all comes terribly easy to her.....but her writing is barely legible and she can almost tie a shoe lace that will stay tied for more than 10 minutes. Can't have everything, I guess.
Oh and how could I forget? We also got a letter today saying that Brody has again been elected to the Middle School Honor Society. Brody is a good student, consistently earning A's and B's, but he is getting to the age where we need to prod him a bit more to do his best. I know it's an adolescent boy thing, but it doesn't make me like it.
Mike and I are extremely blessed to have such great kids. We are very proud of their achievements and hope they will both continue to excel. I don't normally do a lot of bragging about our kids.....but with all the good news we have received about them this week, I couldn't help myself!!
Brody had only two pieces in the art show this year. They were told to cut down on the displays....why, I don't know....but I think it is sad. I am sure many kids, especially in the elementary schools, were left out. Brody's G/T class made ceramic tea pots of their own design. Brody made a sneaker with sock teapot. The sock folded down over the front of the sneaker to form the spout. He said they tested them to see if they held water....they do, but Brody said his is a bit messy when poured! LOL His teapot was incredible and won first prize. I can't wait until he brings that home.....I plan on displaying it in our living room. He also did a pen and ink drawing of a scarab with intricate patterns on it. He won a second prize for that drawing. We are extremely proud of him!
Since I am already in kid bragging mode, I can't leave Marna out. We got a letter this week inviting us to the Academic Excellence Banquet because Marna has been selected for the second year in a row. This award is given to students who get all A's on their report card every marking period. The students' teachers select the recipients. Marna and another girl from her class are the only two from grade 3 in her school. Actually saying grade 3 is misleading. Marna attends an 'ungraded' school. She is in a 3rd/4th grade classroom. Chronologically and on the books she is a 3rd grader, but she has been working with the 4th grade half of her class since September. So her straight A report cards are in a grade higher. She is one smart little cookie. It all comes terribly easy to her.....but her writing is barely legible and she can almost tie a shoe lace that will stay tied for more than 10 minutes. Can't have everything, I guess.
Oh and how could I forget? We also got a letter today saying that Brody has again been elected to the Middle School Honor Society. Brody is a good student, consistently earning A's and B's, but he is getting to the age where we need to prod him a bit more to do his best. I know it's an adolescent boy thing, but it doesn't make me like it.
Mike and I are extremely blessed to have such great kids. We are very proud of their achievements and hope they will both continue to excel. I don't normally do a lot of bragging about our kids.....but with all the good news we have received about them this week, I couldn't help myself!!
Wednesday, May 09, 2001
I haven't been spending much time at the computer for a few days.....I go through these spells, but always get over it! Consequently I have not been keeping up with my blog.
Marna has been working on her science project this week. Gawd, I hate these things. It is required for her to do one. Brody can choose....thank goodness he chose NOT to do one! Marna seems to have better things to do than to work on this thing....like playing outside, watching TV, having a snack.....getting her to do the work she needs to do on this thing has not been an easy task!
Her project, "Does the Color of the Roof Affect the Temperature of a House?" really doesn't entail too much work. She and Mike put together a wooden 'house' and they put five different colored roofing shingles on it. Black, green, gray, red and white. She has had to put the house in full sun for a hour on three days, then put it in the shade, hang the thermometers on it and record 5 lousy temps.....she goes more willingly to the dentist to have teeth pulled than she does to write down these temperatures. Last night I made her sit down and write in her log book, so I could type it up for the display today. I typed up the the title and sub-titles last night and she cut them out .....but I will be doing the gluing. We use rubber cement for these....it is the neatest glue to use, but I don't want her inhaling the fumes. Now all we have to do is to get her to make a chart of the temperatures.....it should be fun getting her to do that. I can't wait until this thing is finished!!
Marna has been working on her science project this week. Gawd, I hate these things. It is required for her to do one. Brody can choose....thank goodness he chose NOT to do one! Marna seems to have better things to do than to work on this thing....like playing outside, watching TV, having a snack.....getting her to do the work she needs to do on this thing has not been an easy task!
Her project, "Does the Color of the Roof Affect the Temperature of a House?" really doesn't entail too much work. She and Mike put together a wooden 'house' and they put five different colored roofing shingles on it. Black, green, gray, red and white. She has had to put the house in full sun for a hour on three days, then put it in the shade, hang the thermometers on it and record 5 lousy temps.....she goes more willingly to the dentist to have teeth pulled than she does to write down these temperatures. Last night I made her sit down and write in her log book, so I could type it up for the display today. I typed up the the title and sub-titles last night and she cut them out .....but I will be doing the gluing. We use rubber cement for these....it is the neatest glue to use, but I don't want her inhaling the fumes. Now all we have to do is to get her to make a chart of the temperatures.....it should be fun getting her to do that. I can't wait until this thing is finished!!
Sunday, May 06, 2001
We attended the wedding shower at Kate's yesterday. It was mostly a back yard affair...it sprinkled at the beginning, but then the sun came out and the weather the rest of the day and evening was absolutely perfect! I met Kate's son Marc's fiancee Laura for the first time, she is lovely and very easy to talk to. We asked not to be invited to the wedding several months ago....it is being held in Elmira, NY....Laura's hometown. Elmira is a 5 hour drive, and the kids wouldn't be invited because they were trying to keep the guest list down to 200. We told them to invite someone they had to eliminate from their list instead. We will be thinking of them on June 30.
Had a terrific time...I always do when I am with Kate and her siblings. Her father had a very good day yesterday, I only noticed him beginning to forget things in mid-conversation right before we left...I imagine he was tired. At first it almost felt like a high school party...the guys gathering around the horse-shoe pit and the beer kegs in the back yard and the ladies sitting around at all the tables. But everyone did mingle later. Vee Jay, Kate's oldest brother and the first love of my life, even managed to get Mike to play horsehoes....not Mike-like at all!! Mike and Vee Jay played against Marc and a friend. Mike really enjoyed it, except for when Vee Jay remarked it was the 'senior citzens' vs. the youngsters....Mike and Vee Jay, of course, being the senior citizens!!
It was so refreshing to see so many 20-something year olds behaving so well.....even with the beer and wine freely flowing. The only time I heard the f-word was from Vee Jay! They were all appropriately dressed in this old lady's opinon, well-spoken and on their best behavior. We oldies were remarking that we still feel like the 20-somethings, but we are trapped in old bodies!
Kate brought out some old photo albums to give to her older sister.....of course we had to peruse them before she took them home. So neat to see pictures of all of us as little kids together....I couldn't convince Marna that it was any of us there, the old people, in those pictures! My parents were even in a couple of photos....photos I had never seen of them. Kate's father even got a bit misty-eyed talking about my parents....they were great friends.
Kate threw a terrific party with lots of yummy food. She made Spinach-Strawberry salad....a combo that doesn't sound like it goes together...but it was SO delicious. I even copied the recipe. A great easy recipe for big gatherings! Of course there was nothing other than tortilla chips there that Marna would eat....so we stopped in a Burger King on the way home at 9:30 to get her some fries.
Looking forward to seeing my dear friends again in June at Vee Jay's surprise 50th (ACK!!) birthday party in June.
Had a terrific time...I always do when I am with Kate and her siblings. Her father had a very good day yesterday, I only noticed him beginning to forget things in mid-conversation right before we left...I imagine he was tired. At first it almost felt like a high school party...the guys gathering around the horse-shoe pit and the beer kegs in the back yard and the ladies sitting around at all the tables. But everyone did mingle later. Vee Jay, Kate's oldest brother and the first love of my life, even managed to get Mike to play horsehoes....not Mike-like at all!! Mike and Vee Jay played against Marc and a friend. Mike really enjoyed it, except for when Vee Jay remarked it was the 'senior citzens' vs. the youngsters....Mike and Vee Jay, of course, being the senior citizens!!
It was so refreshing to see so many 20-something year olds behaving so well.....even with the beer and wine freely flowing. The only time I heard the f-word was from Vee Jay! They were all appropriately dressed in this old lady's opinon, well-spoken and on their best behavior. We oldies were remarking that we still feel like the 20-somethings, but we are trapped in old bodies!
Kate brought out some old photo albums to give to her older sister.....of course we had to peruse them before she took them home. So neat to see pictures of all of us as little kids together....I couldn't convince Marna that it was any of us there, the old people, in those pictures! My parents were even in a couple of photos....photos I had never seen of them. Kate's father even got a bit misty-eyed talking about my parents....they were great friends.
Kate threw a terrific party with lots of yummy food. She made Spinach-Strawberry salad....a combo that doesn't sound like it goes together...but it was SO delicious. I even copied the recipe. A great easy recipe for big gatherings! Of course there was nothing other than tortilla chips there that Marna would eat....so we stopped in a Burger King on the way home at 9:30 to get her some fries.
Looking forward to seeing my dear friends again in June at Vee Jay's surprise 50th (ACK!!) birthday party in June.
Friday, May 04, 2001
Mike and Marna went down the shore when Mike got home from work today. Mike went to turn the water on. Our house is completely closed up during the winter, no electric, no water, no gas, no phone. We have no heat....it's strictly a summer home, so it takes a bit of elbow grease to get in working order for the summer and even more work to get it closed in the fall.
We needed a new water heater before the water was turned on. We have had the same water heater since 1967. My grandfather built the house in 1926, with no hot water. He wouldn't allow hot water to be put in! He wanted that house the same as it was when he built it. I remember my mother boiling water for the big claw bath tub (that we still have) and boiling water to do dishes. What a pain!!! The outside shower felt very frosty after the beach with no hot water...but we took showers daily. Guess what my parents bought the summer after my grandfather died???? The water heater we just got rid of.
Mike called the plumber.....one we have used for years ......in the beginning of March, giving him PLENTY of time. We usually make our first weekend Mother's Day weekend....before that the nights are usually too cold. We can get some nippy nights after that too....but it's a good benchmark. About two weeks ago we really started bugging the plumber.....he called last Saturday, his stupid supplier sent an electric water heater so he had to wait until a gas one came in. So we finally got the call yesterday that the new water heater was in. The gas company needs 10 working days notice to get the gas turned on....I sent the letter out last Saturday. If it got there on Monday, it will be just 10 working days. I am so hoping they get it turned on by next Friday...if not we will have to wait another weekend and no one here wants to do that!!
Everyone gets excited about going down the shore for the first weekend. We almost count the days once Christmas arrives. On Christmas cards sent to shore friends (90% of whom are only summer residents), we always put something like "Only 5 more months", "See you in May", "Can't wait for May" and they do the same. Mike said neighbors from two blocks down drove by honking their horn and waving out the car windows....they are obviously caught up in the 'time to go down the shore' annual rite, as well.
Luckily the kids get caught up in this excitement as well. They are fortunate enough to have friends on our block. Marna has two year round resident kids as friends and Brody's best friends in the world are summer residents, staying at their grandmother's house all summer. I played with their mother, aunts and uncles when I was little!!! There are other kids who come every summer for a week or two and the kids always look forward to their arrival as well. Our block is unique in that several of the houses have been passed down through the generations (as ours has) and my kids are now playing with the children of kids I used to play with!
Our shore house is so special, not only because of its location, but because of its history. My mother spent every summer of her life there from age 9(except 3 years during WWII, when my father was in CA). I have never spent a summer anywhere else. It is definitely home for me. It's also special because my grandfather built it...every board nailed there was a labor of love. His hand prints are all over the ceiling of the unfinished upstairs where he oiled the tongue and groove boards so they would easily slide together. I love to lie in bed at night and look at them....there is even some of his figuring in pencil on the upstairs wall. My mother told me all the stories of her summers there as a young girl, it is certainly a different town from when she was young. I know the stories so well and have so many pictures I almost feel as though I was there in the 1920's. I have already begun to relate those stories to my kids. I will tell them many times so they too will know them as well as I do and will be able to tell their children. Sometimes I almost feel my grandfather looking down and smiling as he watches his great-grandchildren enjoy his home and the beach he loved.
We needed a new water heater before the water was turned on. We have had the same water heater since 1967. My grandfather built the house in 1926, with no hot water. He wouldn't allow hot water to be put in! He wanted that house the same as it was when he built it. I remember my mother boiling water for the big claw bath tub (that we still have) and boiling water to do dishes. What a pain!!! The outside shower felt very frosty after the beach with no hot water...but we took showers daily. Guess what my parents bought the summer after my grandfather died???? The water heater we just got rid of.
Mike called the plumber.....one we have used for years ......in the beginning of March, giving him PLENTY of time. We usually make our first weekend Mother's Day weekend....before that the nights are usually too cold. We can get some nippy nights after that too....but it's a good benchmark. About two weeks ago we really started bugging the plumber.....he called last Saturday, his stupid supplier sent an electric water heater so he had to wait until a gas one came in. So we finally got the call yesterday that the new water heater was in. The gas company needs 10 working days notice to get the gas turned on....I sent the letter out last Saturday. If it got there on Monday, it will be just 10 working days. I am so hoping they get it turned on by next Friday...if not we will have to wait another weekend and no one here wants to do that!!
Everyone gets excited about going down the shore for the first weekend. We almost count the days once Christmas arrives. On Christmas cards sent to shore friends (90% of whom are only summer residents), we always put something like "Only 5 more months", "See you in May", "Can't wait for May" and they do the same. Mike said neighbors from two blocks down drove by honking their horn and waving out the car windows....they are obviously caught up in the 'time to go down the shore' annual rite, as well.
Luckily the kids get caught up in this excitement as well. They are fortunate enough to have friends on our block. Marna has two year round resident kids as friends and Brody's best friends in the world are summer residents, staying at their grandmother's house all summer. I played with their mother, aunts and uncles when I was little!!! There are other kids who come every summer for a week or two and the kids always look forward to their arrival as well. Our block is unique in that several of the houses have been passed down through the generations (as ours has) and my kids are now playing with the children of kids I used to play with!
Our shore house is so special, not only because of its location, but because of its history. My mother spent every summer of her life there from age 9(except 3 years during WWII, when my father was in CA). I have never spent a summer anywhere else. It is definitely home for me. It's also special because my grandfather built it...every board nailed there was a labor of love. His hand prints are all over the ceiling of the unfinished upstairs where he oiled the tongue and groove boards so they would easily slide together. I love to lie in bed at night and look at them....there is even some of his figuring in pencil on the upstairs wall. My mother told me all the stories of her summers there as a young girl, it is certainly a different town from when she was young. I know the stories so well and have so many pictures I almost feel as though I was there in the 1920's. I have already begun to relate those stories to my kids. I will tell them many times so they too will know them as well as I do and will be able to tell their children. Sometimes I almost feel my grandfather looking down and smiling as he watches his great-grandchildren enjoy his home and the beach he loved.
Thursday, May 03, 2001
Another warm day.....not too humid, so I didn't turn the AC on. I was determined to finish cleaning the house (I started yesterday) before noon, so it wouldn't be too hot to stand it. I love the house right after it's cleaned....too bad the kids mess it up as soon as they walk in the door!!! I used to harp on them constantly about cleaning it up. Now I just make them do it before they go to bed. They are more willing to cooperate and I don't have to nag.....it works out well.
Went for my annual pap this afternoon. I am faithful about getting it done, but GAWD I hate it!! I think the worst is waiting for the doctor to come in the room. Sitting there with my little drape on ....with a full length mirror capturing it all for me to see!!! No thought whatsoever was put into the placement of those mirrors...thankfully you can only get a sideview of yourself !! I mean how long do they think a person needs to take their clothes off???? Folding it all in the neat little pile on the chair takes the most time. WHY do we do that? Have you ever seen a gynecologist come in and look at the chair to see if your clothes are in a neatly folded pile?????
Thankfully it's done for another year......
Went for my annual pap this afternoon. I am faithful about getting it done, but GAWD I hate it!! I think the worst is waiting for the doctor to come in the room. Sitting there with my little drape on ....with a full length mirror capturing it all for me to see!!! No thought whatsoever was put into the placement of those mirrors...thankfully you can only get a sideview of yourself !! I mean how long do they think a person needs to take their clothes off???? Folding it all in the neat little pile on the chair takes the most time. WHY do we do that? Have you ever seen a gynecologist come in and look at the chair to see if your clothes are in a neatly folded pile?????
Thankfully it's done for another year......
Wednesday, May 02, 2001
A gorgeous spring day here in South Jersey today. Mike took the top off of his jeep this morning and when he got home from work I just HAD to take a drive. The only time I EVER wear a baseball hat is when I am in the jeep with the top off....I have to, otherwise I wind up eating my hair. Finally found my hat buried in the back of the closet and Marna and I took a ride out on some lovely country roads. It was so much fun! I haven't driven Mike's jeep since early fall. I miss driving a stick shift. It's REAL driving to me. The last car I had that was a stick shift was our '94 Accord Wagon. It is impossible to find sticks on some models...so I have to drive a boring automatic.
Took the kids to the dentist when they got home from school....I noticed Brody's teeth were incredibly whiter after his cleaning.....shows me he is not doing too hot a job of brushing on his own. I told him I would be inspecting his teeth and if they don't pass my inspection they will get a brushing from mom. It will be interesting to see if he believes me......I WILL brush his teeth if I deem it necessary!!
Took the kids to the dentist when they got home from school....I noticed Brody's teeth were incredibly whiter after his cleaning.....shows me he is not doing too hot a job of brushing on his own. I told him I would be inspecting his teeth and if they don't pass my inspection they will get a brushing from mom. It will be interesting to see if he believes me......I WILL brush his teeth if I deem it necessary!!
Tuesday, May 01, 2001
Getting old is so weird! Mike and I were discussing the other night that people you grow old with....spouses, friends, siblings....don't look their age. What I mean is I know Mike doesn't look as old to me as he does to the general population, and I know he doesn't see me as old as the rest of the world. Same thing with our close friends and siblings....we just don't look as old to one another. It holds true when one looks in the mirror, as well. Sure I look older....I can't deny that....but I know I don't look as old to myself as I do to others.......and Mike is convinced he is THE youngest looking almost 49 year old on the planet.
Then today we get our college alumni magazine with pictures of a few people we know. Now we haven't seen these people for 25 plus years..... man, .what a shock!!! They all look so damned old!! Mike, of course, assured me that he looks much better than these guys....but I bet were they to see our pictures they would be just as shocked. They don't have that "familiarity cushion" that helps us look a bit younger .
One of the true gauges of growing older is reading about classmates.....peers....who have died. Mike was shocked to find an ex-roommate of his had died and I found the name of a friend on my dorm floor who had died. Mike and I were both out of touch with these people, but it still hits hard, especially when you remember them as you last saw them, in their early 20's. I feel sure we will be seeing the names of more people we know in the "In Memoriam" section of our alumni magazine. It's just a cold, hard fact of growing older.
Then today we get our college alumni magazine with pictures of a few people we know. Now we haven't seen these people for 25 plus years..... man, .what a shock!!! They all look so damned old!! Mike, of course, assured me that he looks much better than these guys....but I bet were they to see our pictures they would be just as shocked. They don't have that "familiarity cushion" that helps us look a bit younger .
One of the true gauges of growing older is reading about classmates.....peers....who have died. Mike was shocked to find an ex-roommate of his had died and I found the name of a friend on my dorm floor who had died. Mike and I were both out of touch with these people, but it still hits hard, especially when you remember them as you last saw them, in their early 20's. I feel sure we will be seeing the names of more people we know in the "In Memoriam" section of our alumni magazine. It's just a cold, hard fact of growing older.
Found this link on ChrisC's blog. My results had me LMAO.....What's Your Perfect Car?
Darla, you're a Beater
What do you care if your exhaust pipe drags a little on the pavement or if it takes a few tries to wheeze that motor to life in the morning? The car for you is a Beater, since you don't have time to worry about the quality of your wheels. We're thinking a 1970 Dodge Dart or a 1974 Chevy Nova maybe still painted its original salmon orange or moccasin brown. With over 100,000 miles on that odometer, it's been around the block more times than you can count, and there are some great memories buried in that cracked vinyl backseat. Besides being a testament to your laid back lifestyle, and that ironic take on life, you recognize how owning a beater is a great advantage on the road. Notice how other cars don't mess with you, knowing you wouldn't think twice about ramming them just to make a point. Maybe some will call it an eyesore, but your time-honored ride is just proof of your true individuality.
Darla, you're a Beater
What do you care if your exhaust pipe drags a little on the pavement or if it takes a few tries to wheeze that motor to life in the morning? The car for you is a Beater, since you don't have time to worry about the quality of your wheels. We're thinking a 1970 Dodge Dart or a 1974 Chevy Nova maybe still painted its original salmon orange or moccasin brown. With over 100,000 miles on that odometer, it's been around the block more times than you can count, and there are some great memories buried in that cracked vinyl backseat. Besides being a testament to your laid back lifestyle, and that ironic take on life, you recognize how owning a beater is a great advantage on the road. Notice how other cars don't mess with you, knowing you wouldn't think twice about ramming them just to make a point. Maybe some will call it an eyesore, but your time-honored ride is just proof of your true individuality.
Monday, April 30, 2001
Came across an interesting site last night. Philly Foods Missing many of these foods is one of the reasons I couldn’t stand living in Virginia when Mike and I were first married.
I went to college in central Virginia, 6 hours from my home in New Jersey. I loved living on campus and accepted that I would have to eat sucky college food, so I didn’t miss my regional goodies during my 4 years there. Living off campus was a whole different matter.
My mother kept the home in which I was raised until I graduated from college. My father died my freshman year and the house was too big and with an acre and a half of lawn, too much for my mother to take care of. I graduated in May 1976. My mother and I immediately went to the shore for the summer and when the summer was over we began our search for a condominium for her to buy in Philadelphia. Her closest friends still lived there and she wanted to be closer to them.
I loved condo hunting! I had lived in the same house all my life, so this was new to me. We finally found a brand spanking new duplex. My mother bought the upstairs unit, her friend from high school bought the downstairs. We moved in December 1976.
My mother’s condo was near the outskirts of the city….not city-like at all. The area was filled with newer ‘regular’ homes and wooded areas. But what I loved about it was that it was only 20 minutes from center city Philly….a far cry from the hour, 15 min. it took me from Jersey. I loved those few months I lived in Philly. There was so much more to do and see…nothing like the rural area I was from. I had spent much of my childhood in Philly visiting both sets of grandparents, but I had never lived there!
Mike and I were married in June 1977. He had been out of college 2 years and had an apartment in the city of our college. In August we left the shore to begin our new life together in Virginia. I loved being married…..but hated being in Virginia. For the first time in my life I had to grocery shopping. There was little in the stores I recognized. Different brands of food and none of the ethnic cuisine I was used to in the Philly area……they didn’t even have delis then!! I had to buy Kraft packaged cheese and Oscar Mayer luncheon meat. This is a CATASTROPHE for anyone from my area!!
And take out???? Forget it!! There was one hoagie place…..it was blasphemous to use the word hoagie….packaged cold cuts and cheese on a seeded (SEEDS on a hoagie roll????) hot dog bun, they had no clue how to make real pizza down there and I swear had I asked for a cheese steak I would have been served a T-bone between two slices of bread!!!
I knew I wasn’t going to like living in Virginia and told Mike BEFORE we were married that I had no intention of spending my life there. Thankfully he agreed and said we would be out of the south within 5 years….he called it the 5 year plan.
Mike realized how miserable I was in Virginia. I was too far from my mother, too far from the shore and the foods I loved……I wasn’t going to make it on grits, black eyed peas and okra!! My mother never made me feel as though I had to live near her, but at the time, I felt obligated since my father was no longer living. Looking back, I now know I needed her more than she needed me.
Mike started applying for teaching jobs in the NJ/PA area. He landed one quickly here in Bridgeton. We moved in July 1978 and have lived in this town ever since. We were living an hour and 15 minutes from my mother, an hour from the shore and I could actually buy what I wanted and was familiar with in the grocery stores! I was a happy little camper and still am…..this has turned out to be a wonderful town, full of small town friendly people and a great, safe place in which to raise our children. Virginia is a gorgeous state, especially near the mountains where we were…..but New Jersey is home.
I went to college in central Virginia, 6 hours from my home in New Jersey. I loved living on campus and accepted that I would have to eat sucky college food, so I didn’t miss my regional goodies during my 4 years there. Living off campus was a whole different matter.
My mother kept the home in which I was raised until I graduated from college. My father died my freshman year and the house was too big and with an acre and a half of lawn, too much for my mother to take care of. I graduated in May 1976. My mother and I immediately went to the shore for the summer and when the summer was over we began our search for a condominium for her to buy in Philadelphia. Her closest friends still lived there and she wanted to be closer to them.
I loved condo hunting! I had lived in the same house all my life, so this was new to me. We finally found a brand spanking new duplex. My mother bought the upstairs unit, her friend from high school bought the downstairs. We moved in December 1976.
My mother’s condo was near the outskirts of the city….not city-like at all. The area was filled with newer ‘regular’ homes and wooded areas. But what I loved about it was that it was only 20 minutes from center city Philly….a far cry from the hour, 15 min. it took me from Jersey. I loved those few months I lived in Philly. There was so much more to do and see…nothing like the rural area I was from. I had spent much of my childhood in Philly visiting both sets of grandparents, but I had never lived there!
Mike and I were married in June 1977. He had been out of college 2 years and had an apartment in the city of our college. In August we left the shore to begin our new life together in Virginia. I loved being married…..but hated being in Virginia. For the first time in my life I had to grocery shopping. There was little in the stores I recognized. Different brands of food and none of the ethnic cuisine I was used to in the Philly area……they didn’t even have delis then!! I had to buy Kraft packaged cheese and Oscar Mayer luncheon meat. This is a CATASTROPHE for anyone from my area!!
And take out???? Forget it!! There was one hoagie place…..it was blasphemous to use the word hoagie….packaged cold cuts and cheese on a seeded (SEEDS on a hoagie roll????) hot dog bun, they had no clue how to make real pizza down there and I swear had I asked for a cheese steak I would have been served a T-bone between two slices of bread!!!
I knew I wasn’t going to like living in Virginia and told Mike BEFORE we were married that I had no intention of spending my life there. Thankfully he agreed and said we would be out of the south within 5 years….he called it the 5 year plan.
Mike realized how miserable I was in Virginia. I was too far from my mother, too far from the shore and the foods I loved……I wasn’t going to make it on grits, black eyed peas and okra!! My mother never made me feel as though I had to live near her, but at the time, I felt obligated since my father was no longer living. Looking back, I now know I needed her more than she needed me.
Mike started applying for teaching jobs in the NJ/PA area. He landed one quickly here in Bridgeton. We moved in July 1978 and have lived in this town ever since. We were living an hour and 15 minutes from my mother, an hour from the shore and I could actually buy what I wanted and was familiar with in the grocery stores! I was a happy little camper and still am…..this has turned out to be a wonderful town, full of small town friendly people and a great, safe place in which to raise our children. Virginia is a gorgeous state, especially near the mountains where we were…..but New Jersey is home.
Sunday, April 29, 2001
Brody and I went shopping yesterday. I managed to lose my freaking debit card. Now Mike can add that to his list.....loses keys, credit cards (yeah, I have done that at least twice) and debit cards. I had the debit card and my market card (for those non-clippable coupon savings!) in the pocket of my blazer from the night before. I got them both out before Brody and I left. I put the market card in my checkbook and thought I remembered putting the debit card in my wallet. Brody and I get to Target and it's not in my wallet. I had to write a check. I checked the floor by the cash register, the ONLY place I went into my purse since Brody and I had left the house, it wasn't there Went out to the car, not there. I call Mike on the cell phone to get him to check .....the freaking cell phone goes dead!!!!! Grrrrrrr.......
Never did find the debit card, it wasn't here at home, either. I had to report it lost yesterday and have to call the bank tomorrow. It is driving me crazy that I don't have it. I SWEAR I put it in my wallet. LOL Oh, and the cell phone is recharged!!
Never did find the debit card, it wasn't here at home, either. I had to report it lost yesterday and have to call the bank tomorrow. It is driving me crazy that I don't have it. I SWEAR I put it in my wallet. LOL Oh, and the cell phone is recharged!!
Saturday, April 28, 2001
I have to go shopping for a wedding shower gift today. We are going to our first co-ed wedding shower next week. It is for the son and fiancé of my dearest friend in life. I don’t remember when I haven’t known her. I think we have been in each other’s lives since I was about 3, and she 4. She lived up the street from us at the shore. She and her family were one of the few year-round residents on our block.
We have been separated by distance and circumstances over the 40-some years we have known one another, but we have never been separated by spirit. It was quite evident early on that Kate and I are soulmates….we are alike in so many ways. We have shared all the important stuff, like getting boobs and bras, first periods, make-up, trying cigarettes, BOYS. We were masters at strolling the boardwalk looking for guys and always upping our ages by at least one year when we talked to them!
Kate’s family was so different from mine. I loved going to her house and was there as much as possible. Her brothers still make fun of me for sticking my nose on the screen door…”Can Kathy come out?” She is the third of six children, a large Irish Catholic family with very strict parents. Her parents would probably be accused of abuse in this day and age, but then it was considered keeping the kids in line.
Her mother was particularly intimidating…..still is, but as I have gotten older it doesn’t bother me like it did when I was younger. Her father, though strict, could also have so much fun! Her mother worked nights as a waitress, so we often had time with just her father. He would take us to the beach in the evening, pile his 6 kids and me in the car and take us to the drive-in theatre, play games with us….he was wicked at card games, he would do ‘irresponsible’ (but fun) things …I remember him setting off cherry bombs in a trash can under concrete steps ( my ears are still reverberating from that!), and even get down on the floor and wrestle with us. I broke my arm playing ‘horsey’ with him and just to prove we were soulmates, Kate broke her arm as my cast was about to come off!
Kate’s father just celebrated his 76th birthday. He now lives with Kate as he suffers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It is heartbreaking to see the man he is today….a once vibrant, full of laughs man scared to take a shower because he doesn’t remember how it works. I can tell he just hates what these diseases have done to him, but he and the doctors are powerless against them. It saddens me to see that Kate’s life virtually revolves around the care of her father, but I know she is doing it out of love.
Kate’s family was the big, albeit dysfunctional, family I never had and my family was a slice of normalcy for Kate. She loved being with my family….my mother in her shirtwaist dresses, jewelry and make-up and my father in his suits and wing-tipped shoes…..like they had stepped out of the TV. My mother would bake my father’s favorite desserts and get dressed up on Friday evenings awaiting my father's arrival for the weekend. (He stayed at our other house during to week to be closer to work) We both found in each other’s families what lacked in our own. She needed calm from my family and I craved the action of 6 kids in a small house and the ‘edge’ of strict parents from her family.
As of last month, Kate’s parents no longer live up the street from us at the shore. Her parents were no longer able to live there on their own as neither can drive. I will miss that tie to my childhood and the wonderful memories I share with Kate and her family. I know that it will not be the end of my relationship with them. Our pasts are too intertwined to be forgotten or severed. For that reason I very much look forward to occasions such as the wedding shower at Kate’s next week. I love being with Kate, we fall into synch immediately. I love being with her parents, brothers and sisters who have always made me feel as if I am a part of their never-dull family.
I know that many people are not as fortunate as I to have such a terrific life-long friend as Kate. We are, of course, no longer part of each other’s daily life……but it doesn’t seem to matter. When we are together we still finish one another’s sentences and laugh and cry in the same breath as we did when we were kids. I sometimes think she knows what I am thinking before I do! I am very blessed to have Kate in my life!!
We have been separated by distance and circumstances over the 40-some years we have known one another, but we have never been separated by spirit. It was quite evident early on that Kate and I are soulmates….we are alike in so many ways. We have shared all the important stuff, like getting boobs and bras, first periods, make-up, trying cigarettes, BOYS. We were masters at strolling the boardwalk looking for guys and always upping our ages by at least one year when we talked to them!
Kate’s family was so different from mine. I loved going to her house and was there as much as possible. Her brothers still make fun of me for sticking my nose on the screen door…”Can Kathy come out?” She is the third of six children, a large Irish Catholic family with very strict parents. Her parents would probably be accused of abuse in this day and age, but then it was considered keeping the kids in line.
Her mother was particularly intimidating…..still is, but as I have gotten older it doesn’t bother me like it did when I was younger. Her father, though strict, could also have so much fun! Her mother worked nights as a waitress, so we often had time with just her father. He would take us to the beach in the evening, pile his 6 kids and me in the car and take us to the drive-in theatre, play games with us….he was wicked at card games, he would do ‘irresponsible’ (but fun) things …I remember him setting off cherry bombs in a trash can under concrete steps ( my ears are still reverberating from that!), and even get down on the floor and wrestle with us. I broke my arm playing ‘horsey’ with him and just to prove we were soulmates, Kate broke her arm as my cast was about to come off!
Kate’s father just celebrated his 76th birthday. He now lives with Kate as he suffers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It is heartbreaking to see the man he is today….a once vibrant, full of laughs man scared to take a shower because he doesn’t remember how it works. I can tell he just hates what these diseases have done to him, but he and the doctors are powerless against them. It saddens me to see that Kate’s life virtually revolves around the care of her father, but I know she is doing it out of love.
Kate’s family was the big, albeit dysfunctional, family I never had and my family was a slice of normalcy for Kate. She loved being with my family….my mother in her shirtwaist dresses, jewelry and make-up and my father in his suits and wing-tipped shoes…..like they had stepped out of the TV. My mother would bake my father’s favorite desserts and get dressed up on Friday evenings awaiting my father's arrival for the weekend. (He stayed at our other house during to week to be closer to work) We both found in each other’s families what lacked in our own. She needed calm from my family and I craved the action of 6 kids in a small house and the ‘edge’ of strict parents from her family.
As of last month, Kate’s parents no longer live up the street from us at the shore. Her parents were no longer able to live there on their own as neither can drive. I will miss that tie to my childhood and the wonderful memories I share with Kate and her family. I know that it will not be the end of my relationship with them. Our pasts are too intertwined to be forgotten or severed. For that reason I very much look forward to occasions such as the wedding shower at Kate’s next week. I love being with Kate, we fall into synch immediately. I love being with her parents, brothers and sisters who have always made me feel as if I am a part of their never-dull family.
I know that many people are not as fortunate as I to have such a terrific life-long friend as Kate. We are, of course, no longer part of each other’s daily life……but it doesn’t seem to matter. When we are together we still finish one another’s sentences and laugh and cry in the same breath as we did when we were kids. I sometimes think she knows what I am thinking before I do! I am very blessed to have Kate in my life!!
Friday, April 27, 2001
A boring day in the life of a boring homemaker. I did take Newt to the vet today. I was surprised he weighs 2.6 pounds....I didn't think he even weighed 1 pound! He got his first round of shots. I asked when he can be neutered (never had a male cat before) and declawed.....yeah, we're cruel people who 'cut off cat's fingertips'.......he can be neutered at 6 months and can be declawed in two weeks!? I know he has an unfair advantage over the girl cats since they have no claws, but I don't know about putting him under at 8 weeks. But I do trust our vet.
I am missing Marna....she is sleeping over at her friend Danielle's house.....4 houses down. Danielle's grandpop is going to take them to a marionette show at the community college tomorrow morning. She will have a blast....she always does when she sleeps over with friends.
I am missing Marna....she is sleeping over at her friend Danielle's house.....4 houses down. Danielle's grandpop is going to take them to a marionette show at the community college tomorrow morning. She will have a blast....she always does when she sleeps over with friends.
Thursday, April 26, 2001
Stole the idea for taking this test from Jim's Blog. Thank you Jim! It's a Personality Test. I have to say it's pretty right on for me.
Like just 6% of the population you are a MENTOR (SEAT). Some would call you the most powerful and influential of all people. Those people are wrong.
The reality is that you DON'T really WANT to impose personal views or beliefs on others. Yet you are extroverted and intelligent, and you like to get involved. So you help others with the pursuit of knowledge.
You're the reason that people say "teachers are also students." You are as much a learner as a master, and this satisfies you.
You won't die a lonely death, but towards the end you'll grow introspective, wondering if your life meant anything. This will last for decades, and you'll die after your spouse.
Like just 6% of the population you are a MENTOR (SEAT). Some would call you the most powerful and influential of all people. Those people are wrong.
The reality is that you DON'T really WANT to impose personal views or beliefs on others. Yet you are extroverted and intelligent, and you like to get involved. So you help others with the pursuit of knowledge.
You're the reason that people say "teachers are also students." You are as much a learner as a master, and this satisfies you.
You won't die a lonely death, but towards the end you'll grow introspective, wondering if your life meant anything. This will last for decades, and you'll die after your spouse.
The furniture store just called. Our new bedroom furniture is in. Mike is still not finished with the bedroom.....it's tough when you work every day and two nights a week, as well. We really don't want the furniture until Mike is finished. I explained that to them and they are nice enough to keep the furniture until we are ready. Mike says he will probably finish this weekend. The lady must think we are crazy. We ordered the furniture about 8 weeks ago and we are just now redoing the bedroom???? LOL
Wednesday, April 25, 2001
In keeping with the title of this blog.....I am going to bore you. Maybe it's the fact that my kids are no longer babies and there is NO WAY there are going to be more human babies living in this house.......perhaps that is why I have been enthralled watching Newt for the last 48 hours. Rooney and Casper were this tiny when we got them, but that was 20 years ago. I barely remember them being kittens. Duffy and Triggs were much older kittens when we got them, so I am having so much fun watching teeny tiny Newt discover his world (this house).
He has no fear whatsoever, no fear of the big girl sister cats.....they are much more afraid of him! He gets right in their faces and takes their swats with ease. He climbs all the furniture and surprised us by climbing up the basement stairs the first night. Duffy and Triggs didn't venture up the stairs for 4 days and they were 3 times his size. I am loving how Brody and Marna are delighting in Newt, too.....he is just so small, one can't help but immediately fall in love with him. This old lady is very happy to have a baby in the house.......even if it is a furry, four-legged baby.
He has no fear whatsoever, no fear of the big girl sister cats.....they are much more afraid of him! He gets right in their faces and takes their swats with ease. He climbs all the furniture and surprised us by climbing up the basement stairs the first night. Duffy and Triggs didn't venture up the stairs for 4 days and they were 3 times his size. I am loving how Brody and Marna are delighting in Newt, too.....he is just so small, one can't help but immediately fall in love with him. This old lady is very happy to have a baby in the house.......even if it is a furry, four-legged baby.
We actually got in the orthodontist's today. He filed Marna's retainer to adjust for where she has lost some more teeth. We won't see purple glitter when she smiles any longer. He also said that her teeth are coming in so crooked that he wants to put brackets on her front upper teeth. This will amount to a first round of braces and when she hits puberty she will be getting a second round to 'finalize' her mouth. Her teeth look horrible.....so many missing and the ones that are in or are coming in are so terribly crooked.....I don't even want to think what her mouth would look like had we not gone to the orthodontist!! Marna is such a trooper through all of this. No adult could put up with all she has been through in the world of dentistry and orthodontics.
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
I am so sick of dealing with idiots!!!! We made an appointment at the orthodontist several weeks ago for Marna on 4/24/01 at 9:00. Marna and I arrive shortly before 9 and the place is dark and locked up tighter than a drum. We wait for 15 minutes....knowing full well they aren't going to open....they are always open early. I take Marna back to school and explain to her principal that we don't have a note, but show her the appointment card to prove I am not a loony!
I come home and call. "Oh they aren't going to be in Bridgeton until tomorrow." I explain to her my appointment card says the 24th......."Oh, I'm sorry, that's a wrong. We have her in the computer for tomorrow, the 25th." I will be taking that appointment card and shoving it under the bimbo receptionist's nose tomorrow!!!
I come home and call. "Oh they aren't going to be in Bridgeton until tomorrow." I explain to her my appointment card says the 24th......."Oh, I'm sorry, that's a wrong. We have her in the computer for tomorrow, the 25th." I will be taking that appointment card and shoving it under the bimbo receptionist's nose tomorrow!!!
Monday, April 23, 2001
The guy we got our kittens Duffy and Triggs from told Mike that mother cat's newest litter was able to leave the nest. They are 8 weeks old. We have been going back and forth about getting a third cat since we heard mother cat had another litter. Duffy and Triggs have turned out to be such lovable kittens. I loved Casper and Rooney with all my heart, but I have to say that Duffy and Triggs are much sweeter cats.
I am such a worrier.....I don't want to upset the balance between Duffy and Triggs.....but I wanted another kitten. What to do???? Mike gave me many illustrations of friends who have added cats with no problem....I still wasn't convinced. The kids started begging.....on their knees.....I caved. We went out to the farm....I knew as soon as I saw them I wouldn't be able to resist. I couldn't. We went out with the idea of taking the black striped kitten, but then I saw this blue-gray and white one. He is so handsome, I couldn't resist. So he came home with us today. We named him Newt and he is currently living in the basement. There is a couch and chair down there and he has already mastered climbing onto those. He can't quite make the steps yet, but I am sure it won't take him long to figure them out.
Duffy and Triggs don't know quite what to think about this new invader. There has been a bit of hissing and some licking...but luckily no roughness. They seem to sense he is a baby. I am worried about them getting along, but Mike, the kids and a few friends I have called have assured me they will get along after an adjustment period. I hope so.....
I am such a worrier.....I don't want to upset the balance between Duffy and Triggs.....but I wanted another kitten. What to do???? Mike gave me many illustrations of friends who have added cats with no problem....I still wasn't convinced. The kids started begging.....on their knees.....I caved. We went out to the farm....I knew as soon as I saw them I wouldn't be able to resist. I couldn't. We went out with the idea of taking the black striped kitten, but then I saw this blue-gray and white one. He is so handsome, I couldn't resist. So he came home with us today. We named him Newt and he is currently living in the basement. There is a couch and chair down there and he has already mastered climbing onto those. He can't quite make the steps yet, but I am sure it won't take him long to figure them out.
Duffy and Triggs don't know quite what to think about this new invader. There has been a bit of hissing and some licking...but luckily no roughness. They seem to sense he is a baby. I am worried about them getting along, but Mike, the kids and a few friends I have called have assured me they will get along after an adjustment period. I hope so.....
Saturday, April 21, 2001
Bad day at Black Rock here.....no one is old enough to know what that is, I bet.....it is an old Spencer Tracy (anyone old enough to remember him???) film. My family has used the title of that movie for whenever things don't go the way we plan. My family has a saying for just about everything. If you are in the bathroom and there is no toilet paper left under the sink, you have to yell "Joe McGucken!!!" Anyone in the house (even many of our friends now know this) knows this means toilet paper is needed immediately. It comes from friends' of my grandparents. Mrs. McGucken was visiting my grandparents and was in the bathroom with no toilet paper, so she started screaming for her husband. This probably happened in the 1920's and my family still screams "Joe McGucken!!" when they need toilet paper. I could list many, many more....but I digress......
As I was saying....bad day at Black Rock here.....at least for Brody. The Sixers lost the game. He has been in a funk ever since. All that explaining above, just to say the Sixers lost! Not a big deal to most people....but it certainly is for #1 fan, Brody.
Mike painted in the bedroom all day....the trim is taking forever....2 coats on four windows, crown molding, two closets.....a lot of tedious work. Better Mike than me. He was so sick of being in the house that he insisted we go out to dinner. We went to our favorite local Italian restaurant. I had my favorite dish, Gnocchi Capri. Gnocchi in a cream, tomato, basil sauce, topped with mozzarella and baked. Artery clogging for sure, but it is soooooo delish!!
Time to get the kids to 'go up the golden stairs to sleep' (another family expression, origin unknown).
As I was saying....bad day at Black Rock here.....at least for Brody. The Sixers lost the game. He has been in a funk ever since. All that explaining above, just to say the Sixers lost! Not a big deal to most people....but it certainly is for #1 fan, Brody.
Mike painted in the bedroom all day....the trim is taking forever....2 coats on four windows, crown molding, two closets.....a lot of tedious work. Better Mike than me. He was so sick of being in the house that he insisted we go out to dinner. We went to our favorite local Italian restaurant. I had my favorite dish, Gnocchi Capri. Gnocchi in a cream, tomato, basil sauce, topped with mozzarella and baked. Artery clogging for sure, but it is soooooo delish!!
Time to get the kids to 'go up the golden stairs to sleep' (another family expression, origin unknown).
I love Saturday mornings. It is the only day of the week that I don't have to get up at the crack o' dawn. I LOVE to sleep in! I also like Saturday mornings because I don't have to jump in the shower the minute I crawl out of bed....I can lounge around in my sleep shirt and robe. I am an expert at being lazy!
Friday, April 20, 2001
TEN THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME
1. I am left handed.
2. I am a sun whore and I have the dried out skin to prove it. I use lotion....but I only use Bain de Soleil #4 orange gelee.....which is about as effective as baby oil in protection. I lie in the sun almost every day in the summer. I also love to swim. I am the only old lady out there body surfing.
3. My mother was an older mother.....I have followed in her footsteps. She was 36 years old when she had me, very unusual for the 1950's.
4. I live 20 miles away from where I was born and raised.
5. I love to talk on the phone and thankfully have friends who like to do the same. It is not unusual for me to have hour long conversations or even 2 hour conversations. Mike just loves when I do that with my friends who live far away! LOL
6. I LOVE to drive. I find it a great stress-buster. When Marna was going through her colicky period I would often jump in the car right after I handed her over to Mike as he walked in the door. We live in a great area for driving.....long country roads leading to more long country roads.
7. I know the city of Philadelphia better than anyone I know, (except for my brother). I can get you to any part of the city, center city or otherwise. My friends are always calling me for directions to different parts of the city. Both sets of grandparents lived in Philadelphia and we spent many, many weekends there. My father was a great one for taking 'field trips', so my brother and I learned the city inside and out from checking out all the sites with our father.
8. I know a LOT of trivia. I know a little about almost everything and know a lot about nothing. My family has been telling me to go on Jeopardy for years. I just have a knack....well I used to have a knack, as I grow older I seem to be losing it a bit.....for remembering something I have read only once. All these useless little tidbits stuck in my brain. It came in very handy when I was in school.....I didn't have to study nearly as long as most people. We used to play trivia with friends on a regular basis, but they won't play with me any more.....we have moved on to card games! LOL
9. I suck at math. I hate math.
10. I lose my keys frequently. Mike has threatened to nail them to my ass on a chain.
1. I am left handed.
2. I am a sun whore and I have the dried out skin to prove it. I use lotion....but I only use Bain de Soleil #4 orange gelee.....which is about as effective as baby oil in protection. I lie in the sun almost every day in the summer. I also love to swim. I am the only old lady out there body surfing.
3. My mother was an older mother.....I have followed in her footsteps. She was 36 years old when she had me, very unusual for the 1950's.
4. I live 20 miles away from where I was born and raised.
5. I love to talk on the phone and thankfully have friends who like to do the same. It is not unusual for me to have hour long conversations or even 2 hour conversations. Mike just loves when I do that with my friends who live far away! LOL
6. I LOVE to drive. I find it a great stress-buster. When Marna was going through her colicky period I would often jump in the car right after I handed her over to Mike as he walked in the door. We live in a great area for driving.....long country roads leading to more long country roads.
7. I know the city of Philadelphia better than anyone I know, (except for my brother). I can get you to any part of the city, center city or otherwise. My friends are always calling me for directions to different parts of the city. Both sets of grandparents lived in Philadelphia and we spent many, many weekends there. My father was a great one for taking 'field trips', so my brother and I learned the city inside and out from checking out all the sites with our father.
8. I know a LOT of trivia. I know a little about almost everything and know a lot about nothing. My family has been telling me to go on Jeopardy for years. I just have a knack....well I used to have a knack, as I grow older I seem to be losing it a bit.....for remembering something I have read only once. All these useless little tidbits stuck in my brain. It came in very handy when I was in school.....I didn't have to study nearly as long as most people. We used to play trivia with friends on a regular basis, but they won't play with me any more.....we have moved on to card games! LOL
9. I suck at math. I hate math.
10. I lose my keys frequently. Mike has threatened to nail them to my ass on a chain.
I have just perused all the blogs that have become part of my daily net routine. I am amazed at how they are evolving. They all look so great.....fancy new colors, layouts, features, etc.
This thing ain't called BlogBore for nothing......this is the way this blog will remain.....boring in content and appearance! LOL
This thing ain't called BlogBore for nothing......this is the way this blog will remain.....boring in content and appearance! LOL
Didn't get to blog yesterday or do much of anything on the net for that matter. DSL was down. I called and got a recording that they were experiencing trouble in South Jersey (me), parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. "We are working diligently to rectify the problem as quickly as possible." More than 12 hours later it finally connected.
Had an interesting afternoon yesterday. My friend Marge came over to give Marna her birthday presents. We were chatting away in the den and heard Brody and his friends playing their daily basketball game in the driveway. Brody came in and said, " Aunt Marge, some girl threw a skateboard and it hit your car and dented it." Brody has been known to kid around with stuff like this, so neither Marge nor I took him seriously at first. He realized we weren't buying it and finally said, "I am not kidding, come out and look."
We go out back and there are 3 middle school age girls standing there. I have never seen any of them before.
Sure enough, on the hood of Marge's Expedition are two huge dents from the wheels of the skateboard and a huge scrape from the grip tape on the deck of the board in between. Marge was much more calm than I would ever expect her to be and much more calm than I know I would have been had it been my car. I turned to the girls and asked which one threw it. The girl admitted it, I got her name and address, and then told her to leave as we do not tolerate behavior like that. It seems as though she was aiming for the head of one of Brody's friends and he ducked! I hate to think what would have happened to John had she made her target!!
As the girl is walking out of our yard, one of the other girls starts yelling at me, "Who the f*** do you think you are? You can't f***ing talk to my sister like that you motherf***er!" I can't even describe the rage I felt when that girl spewed those words in my direction. I did stay calm and said to her, "I'll tell you who I am. I am the owner of this property, the property you are trespassing upon and I suggest you leave this minute and if I ever see you or your sister here again, I will immediately call the police."
I expected another foul-mouthed response, but she mumbled under her breath and she and her friend walked to the street.
The boys came over and patted me on the back thrilled that I had 'handled' her. They said she is bad news and at the moment is suspended from school. It seems the girls were walking by and saw the boys in the backyard and decided to invite themselves back there. Of course my obvious question to the boys was why didn't you tell me or tell them to leave? Being adolescent boys, I think they enjoyed the idea of girls watching them play.....even though they don't like these girls.
We checked out Marge's car again and realized it was going to be a costly repair. We decided to call the police to get a report. The police came and said Marge had two choices.....go talk to the parents of the girl and try to work it out that way, or file charges against her and take it court to get the money. Marge decided she would talk to the parents first. I told the officer that she would only be doing that if he accompanied her. He said he would.
Marge came back and told us that another officer showed up. She went to the door of the house with an officer on either side of her. The mother was terribly upset at the throwing of the skateboard and the foul-mouthed back talk. Marge said the mother seemed distraught that her daughters are out of control. I found out from one of Brody's friends that the foul-mouthed sister broke a window of a neighbor .....with her fist!!!....and had the police called on her then, as well. Marge told her that she would like to keep the police out of it, if possible. The mother agreed and said I am going to have to pay for it either way so I would just like to keep it between us (she and Marge). Marge thinks the mother is sincere, but told the mother if it didn't work out this way, she would take it to court. The mother gave Marge her name and phone number and told Marge to call her when she got an estimate. I hope it does work out with no problems.
I am astounded at the behavior of these kids. What is up with kids these days?? I find it very scary that some kids think nothing of behaving in this manner.
Had an interesting afternoon yesterday. My friend Marge came over to give Marna her birthday presents. We were chatting away in the den and heard Brody and his friends playing their daily basketball game in the driveway. Brody came in and said, " Aunt Marge, some girl threw a skateboard and it hit your car and dented it." Brody has been known to kid around with stuff like this, so neither Marge nor I took him seriously at first. He realized we weren't buying it and finally said, "I am not kidding, come out and look."
We go out back and there are 3 middle school age girls standing there. I have never seen any of them before.
Sure enough, on the hood of Marge's Expedition are two huge dents from the wheels of the skateboard and a huge scrape from the grip tape on the deck of the board in between. Marge was much more calm than I would ever expect her to be and much more calm than I know I would have been had it been my car. I turned to the girls and asked which one threw it. The girl admitted it, I got her name and address, and then told her to leave as we do not tolerate behavior like that. It seems as though she was aiming for the head of one of Brody's friends and he ducked! I hate to think what would have happened to John had she made her target!!
As the girl is walking out of our yard, one of the other girls starts yelling at me, "Who the f*** do you think you are? You can't f***ing talk to my sister like that you motherf***er!" I can't even describe the rage I felt when that girl spewed those words in my direction. I did stay calm and said to her, "I'll tell you who I am. I am the owner of this property, the property you are trespassing upon and I suggest you leave this minute and if I ever see you or your sister here again, I will immediately call the police."
I expected another foul-mouthed response, but she mumbled under her breath and she and her friend walked to the street.
The boys came over and patted me on the back thrilled that I had 'handled' her. They said she is bad news and at the moment is suspended from school. It seems the girls were walking by and saw the boys in the backyard and decided to invite themselves back there. Of course my obvious question to the boys was why didn't you tell me or tell them to leave? Being adolescent boys, I think they enjoyed the idea of girls watching them play.....even though they don't like these girls.
We checked out Marge's car again and realized it was going to be a costly repair. We decided to call the police to get a report. The police came and said Marge had two choices.....go talk to the parents of the girl and try to work it out that way, or file charges against her and take it court to get the money. Marge decided she would talk to the parents first. I told the officer that she would only be doing that if he accompanied her. He said he would.
Marge came back and told us that another officer showed up. She went to the door of the house with an officer on either side of her. The mother was terribly upset at the throwing of the skateboard and the foul-mouthed back talk. Marge said the mother seemed distraught that her daughters are out of control. I found out from one of Brody's friends that the foul-mouthed sister broke a window of a neighbor .....with her fist!!!....and had the police called on her then, as well. Marge told her that she would like to keep the police out of it, if possible. The mother agreed and said I am going to have to pay for it either way so I would just like to keep it between us (she and Marge). Marge thinks the mother is sincere, but told the mother if it didn't work out this way, she would take it to court. The mother gave Marge her name and phone number and told Marge to call her when she got an estimate. I hope it does work out with no problems.
I am astounded at the behavior of these kids. What is up with kids these days?? I find it very scary that some kids think nothing of behaving in this manner.
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
Getting older sucks. Mike and I both went to bed fine. He woke up with a hurting back, I woke up with an aching hip. It really eats it when you get hurt in bed....SLEEPING!! Oh wait...maybe we had super wild sex in our sleep and neither of us remembers......shit, if we're so old we wouldn't remember that.....shoot us!!!
We went to pick out wallpaper for our bedroom today. I kind of dreaded it....I hate all those choices, and I had nothing in mind. I don't have a particular decorating style like country, traditional, etc.,.....if I like it, I use it. Our bedroom was last done when Brody was about a year old.....so 12 years later, it's ready for a re-do. Plus we have ordered new bedroom furniture. We have a mish mosh of furniture at the moment. Most of the set my parents bought me when I was a sophomore in high school and some pieces that a friend gave us when she moved.
We are keeping the butt-ugly 70's rust, brown, beige carpet. It is so ugly, but it's on the second floor, no one sees it and it is in excellent condition. Mike wanted to rip it up and have the hardwood floors.....I wanted the bedroom carpeted.....so since we are both too cheap to replace it, the butt-ugly carpet stays.
Back to the wallpaper....Mike, the supreme cheapo, went immediately to the overstock racks of wallpaper. I was perusing the books and finding NOTHING. He walked over to me with one that I nixed when he was about 3 feet away from me. He came over with a second one and I LOVED it. It's kind of indescribably wild....we both agreed it was the paper we would use. We only paper the wall where the head of the bed is.....the rest of the room will be coordinately painted. So, we will be busy re-doing the bedroom, once Mike removes the old wallpaper.
Marna and I baked "Amish Friendship Bread" this evening . It is a project she is doing with her Brownie troop. We got a bag of starter.....smelly fermenting stuff, much like sourdough starter......and have had it for 10 days. Most days we just had to squeeze the bag, but on the 5th day we had to add sugar, milk, and flour. We finished the recipe today..... adding lots of ingredients, making 4 more starter bags for other troop members and the rest we used for baking two loaves. We put raisins in one and chocolate chips in the other. They smelled surprisingly delicious as they were baking.....nothing like that stinky starter. When it was finished baking, we allowed it to cool sufficiently and we all tried a piece. Wow! Were we surprised......it is delicious!! Marna was quite proud that she practically made it all by herself!!
Tomorrow is the last day of spring break. Why they made it for them to go back on a Thursday, I don't know, but it will get us out that much earlier in June....so I'm not going to complain. We have no plans for the day as of yet.....but I don't think I want to stay home. I'll have to think of something to do tomorrow.
We went to pick out wallpaper for our bedroom today. I kind of dreaded it....I hate all those choices, and I had nothing in mind. I don't have a particular decorating style like country, traditional, etc.,.....if I like it, I use it. Our bedroom was last done when Brody was about a year old.....so 12 years later, it's ready for a re-do. Plus we have ordered new bedroom furniture. We have a mish mosh of furniture at the moment. Most of the set my parents bought me when I was a sophomore in high school and some pieces that a friend gave us when she moved.
We are keeping the butt-ugly 70's rust, brown, beige carpet. It is so ugly, but it's on the second floor, no one sees it and it is in excellent condition. Mike wanted to rip it up and have the hardwood floors.....I wanted the bedroom carpeted.....so since we are both too cheap to replace it, the butt-ugly carpet stays.
Back to the wallpaper....Mike, the supreme cheapo, went immediately to the overstock racks of wallpaper. I was perusing the books and finding NOTHING. He walked over to me with one that I nixed when he was about 3 feet away from me. He came over with a second one and I LOVED it. It's kind of indescribably wild....we both agreed it was the paper we would use. We only paper the wall where the head of the bed is.....the rest of the room will be coordinately painted. So, we will be busy re-doing the bedroom, once Mike removes the old wallpaper.
Marna and I baked "Amish Friendship Bread" this evening . It is a project she is doing with her Brownie troop. We got a bag of starter.....smelly fermenting stuff, much like sourdough starter......and have had it for 10 days. Most days we just had to squeeze the bag, but on the 5th day we had to add sugar, milk, and flour. We finished the recipe today..... adding lots of ingredients, making 4 more starter bags for other troop members and the rest we used for baking two loaves. We put raisins in one and chocolate chips in the other. They smelled surprisingly delicious as they were baking.....nothing like that stinky starter. When it was finished baking, we allowed it to cool sufficiently and we all tried a piece. Wow! Were we surprised......it is delicious!! Marna was quite proud that she practically made it all by herself!!
Tomorrow is the last day of spring break. Why they made it for them to go back on a Thursday, I don't know, but it will get us out that much earlier in June....so I'm not going to complain. We have no plans for the day as of yet.....but I don't think I want to stay home. I'll have to think of something to do tomorrow.
Monday, April 16, 2001
A very quiet day-after-Easter. Marna's birthday money was burning a hole in her pocket and she wanted to go shopping. Mike decided to take the kids and give me a day off......I can dig it! Marna bought a new DiscMan to replace her cheapo one. They also went to the CD store.....Marna bought a Faith Hill CD, Brody bought a Third Eye Blind CD and Mike bought a best of Loggins and Messina CD......what a variety of music!! They also stopped in at a dollar store on the way home and Brody brought me a candle and a bag of Mary Janes. I love those things! That kid knows me!
Sunday, April 15, 2001
A lovely Easter day is winding down. Our guests just left and dear Michael is tackling the kitchen. We left all the mess so we could socialize with our friends Joan and Tony. Joan has to work tomorrow....has to get up at 5AM, so they couldn't stay too late, especially since they have an hour ride home.
I think this is the first Easter the kids have not awakened on their own. Does that mean they are getting old or does it mean they are getting too little sleep? We woke them up and they were both thrilled with their baskets. We went to church and boy, was it packed! I know it always is on Easter.....but I have never seen it so full. The choir was exceptionally terrific this morning and we had a guest flutist and pianist accompanying the organ. The music was incredible. Marna sang in the cherub choir and as I was watching her I couldn't believe she was standing there, facing all these people. She sang her little heart out. Marna used to be so terribly shy....at that time I would have never believed she would be able to sing in front of so many people. After the service, there was an egg hunt for the kids 12 and under.....the older kids filled and hid the plastic eggs all over the church yard.
We had friends from the shore for dinner. Tony is Mike's best friend and I really like Joan a lot. We drank a lot of wine, laughed a lot and enjoyed dinner. Mike is such a sweetie that he cleaned up everything. Not an easy job. We have a dishwasher, but none of the silver or old crystal stemware can go in.....he had to handwash a LOT. He is so good!!!! I am still miserably full from dinner. Think I will go get comfy......my nightshirt and robe are sounding pretty damned good at this moment.
I think this is the first Easter the kids have not awakened on their own. Does that mean they are getting old or does it mean they are getting too little sleep? We woke them up and they were both thrilled with their baskets. We went to church and boy, was it packed! I know it always is on Easter.....but I have never seen it so full. The choir was exceptionally terrific this morning and we had a guest flutist and pianist accompanying the organ. The music was incredible. Marna sang in the cherub choir and as I was watching her I couldn't believe she was standing there, facing all these people. She sang her little heart out. Marna used to be so terribly shy....at that time I would have never believed she would be able to sing in front of so many people. After the service, there was an egg hunt for the kids 12 and under.....the older kids filled and hid the plastic eggs all over the church yard.
We had friends from the shore for dinner. Tony is Mike's best friend and I really like Joan a lot. We drank a lot of wine, laughed a lot and enjoyed dinner. Mike is such a sweetie that he cleaned up everything. Not an easy job. We have a dishwasher, but none of the silver or old crystal stemware can go in.....he had to handwash a LOT. He is so good!!!! I am still miserably full from dinner. Think I will go get comfy......my nightshirt and robe are sounding pretty damned good at this moment.
Saturday, April 14, 2001
I have been extremely busy doing day before Easter stuff. Dyed two dozen eggs....took us about 15 minutes....we warped through those things! I prepared as much dinner today as I possibly could. We are having friends for dinner and I don't like to be stuck in the kitchen any longer than I have to. I want to socialize and drink wine like everyone else! I am sitting here avoiding the ironing board. Marna's dress and Brody's shirt and pants have to be ironed. I HATE to iron pants. Mike will probably take pity on me and iron the pants for me if I bitch and moan enough! LOL After I get the ironing done, the Easter Bunny will arrive and I will probably hit the sack. I am tuckered out from Marna's sleepover. I am too old for this shit. They didn't go to sleep until 2:30 and woke up at 7:00. My eyelids are sinking slowing into the west.
I was looking through Marna's baby book this morning and found this. I'd forgotten I had written it.
Dear Marna,
Your first birthday! Can it be a year already since I saw the nurse check your "vitals" and proclaim, "It's a GIRL!"??
Daddy and I were thrilled! The nurse laid you on my stomach.... what a head of black hair you had! You opened your eyes and looked at me.....dark, brown eyes (and "they" say all babies are born with blue eyes). Your hair and eyes were so much darker than anyone in the family that Daddy and I used to say we wouldn't believe you were ours had we not been in the delivery room. We later found out that your coloring comes from Grandpop Russ' (my father and your middle name sake) side of the family.
You slept through the night right from the start. In fact the first couple of days, I thought there was something wrong with you, you slept so much. I didn't know how lucky I had it. At about 3 weeks, the colic set in. Boy, you could scream and scream and scream. Naps? Forget it! But luckily you still slept well at night.
You were so miserable with the colic that you weren't too happy an infant. Friends and family would turn themselves inside out trying to make you smile and laugh. Mostly, to no avail. The only person that seemed to make you happy consistently was your big brother, Brody. You have loved him from the moment you laid eyes on him.
You were so colicky we couldn't even take you to a restaurant without you screaming throughout our meal. Then around 5 1/2 months, when you began to sit up on your own and creep around on your tummy, your entire disposition changed. You turned into a smiling, laughing, big brown-eyed, wavy haired baby.
You are so much fun to be around! You are sometimes a little wreckless....you've broken 3 knick knacks at Grandmar's when her 3 grandsons have broken none! You love chasing Casper (Rooney is smart enough to hide from you!), saying your first word, "Cat, cat!". Brody's toys seem to be more fun to play with than your own and you delight in getting in his way when he tries to draw, build with Legos, etc. I think music is special to you. You dance and squeal when people sing or when you hear music from Brody's favorite TV shows, "Sesame Street" and "Barney".
I could probably write pages as to how much you have changed....a lot has happened in between your bawling infant stage and the present walking-explorer stage. But that's not my purpose in writing this.
I want you to know that Daddy and I are so happy that you are here. From the moment we discovered we were pregnant with you, through those colic months, until now....watching you begin to walk on your own...we have been thrilled to have you be a part of our family. I can't imagine the Coyne family without you.
We dream so much for you, Marna.....a world at peace, with no hunger, want or pollution. We dream of an educational system that will provide all students with an education that will prepare them for a productive life and the opportunity to obtain a college education regardless of their family income. We dream of a world without discrimination or prejudice. Mostly, we dream for you..... health, prosperity, and most importantly a life filled with love, respect and honesty.
Love......the most important part of a person's life. Love....that's what this letter is about.....how very much Daddy and I love you, no matter where you are or what you do.
Thank you so much for making us a complete family, Marna.
I will love you always and unconditionally,
Mommy
Dear Marna,
Your first birthday! Can it be a year already since I saw the nurse check your "vitals" and proclaim, "It's a GIRL!"??
Daddy and I were thrilled! The nurse laid you on my stomach.... what a head of black hair you had! You opened your eyes and looked at me.....dark, brown eyes (and "they" say all babies are born with blue eyes). Your hair and eyes were so much darker than anyone in the family that Daddy and I used to say we wouldn't believe you were ours had we not been in the delivery room. We later found out that your coloring comes from Grandpop Russ' (my father and your middle name sake) side of the family.
You slept through the night right from the start. In fact the first couple of days, I thought there was something wrong with you, you slept so much. I didn't know how lucky I had it. At about 3 weeks, the colic set in. Boy, you could scream and scream and scream. Naps? Forget it! But luckily you still slept well at night.
You were so miserable with the colic that you weren't too happy an infant. Friends and family would turn themselves inside out trying to make you smile and laugh. Mostly, to no avail. The only person that seemed to make you happy consistently was your big brother, Brody. You have loved him from the moment you laid eyes on him.
You were so colicky we couldn't even take you to a restaurant without you screaming throughout our meal. Then around 5 1/2 months, when you began to sit up on your own and creep around on your tummy, your entire disposition changed. You turned into a smiling, laughing, big brown-eyed, wavy haired baby.
You are so much fun to be around! You are sometimes a little wreckless....you've broken 3 knick knacks at Grandmar's when her 3 grandsons have broken none! You love chasing Casper (Rooney is smart enough to hide from you!), saying your first word, "Cat, cat!". Brody's toys seem to be more fun to play with than your own and you delight in getting in his way when he tries to draw, build with Legos, etc. I think music is special to you. You dance and squeal when people sing or when you hear music from Brody's favorite TV shows, "Sesame Street" and "Barney".
I could probably write pages as to how much you have changed....a lot has happened in between your bawling infant stage and the present walking-explorer stage. But that's not my purpose in writing this.
I want you to know that Daddy and I are so happy that you are here. From the moment we discovered we were pregnant with you, through those colic months, until now....watching you begin to walk on your own...we have been thrilled to have you be a part of our family. I can't imagine the Coyne family without you.
We dream so much for you, Marna.....a world at peace, with no hunger, want or pollution. We dream of an educational system that will provide all students with an education that will prepare them for a productive life and the opportunity to obtain a college education regardless of their family income. We dream of a world without discrimination or prejudice. Mostly, we dream for you..... health, prosperity, and most importantly a life filled with love, respect and honesty.
Love......the most important part of a person's life. Love....that's what this letter is about.....how very much Daddy and I love you, no matter where you are or what you do.
Thank you so much for making us a complete family, Marna.
I will love you always and unconditionally,
Mommy
It's almost midnight and I don't hear any noise coming from Marna's room. Of course, I am downstairs and she and Kaitlyn are upstairs, but it does sound quiet. Could they be asleep??
Marna is so thrilled Kaitlyn is staying overnight. It was Marna's wish for a 'birthday party". They have done some summer clothes modeling for us and have done a dance to an N'Sync song. The low point of the evening was being forced to sit there and watch a Mary Kate and Ashley video....GAG!
Oooops! Spoke too soon....I just heard Marna's belly laugh! LOL
Marna is so thrilled Kaitlyn is staying overnight. It was Marna's wish for a 'birthday party". They have done some summer clothes modeling for us and have done a dance to an N'Sync song. The low point of the evening was being forced to sit there and watch a Mary Kate and Ashley video....GAG!
Oooops! Spoke too soon....I just heard Marna's belly laugh! LOL
Friday, April 13, 2001
I didn't blog yesterday either.....this will have to be yesterdays entry! LOL
Brody was up overnight (Wed.) throwing up and had about 5 episodes of diarrhea. I got super concerned and decided this morning to take him to OUR doctor even though he had just seen another in the practice the day before. They had to squeeze us in, as it is bedlam there because one of the other doctor's in the practice is in the hospital....suffering the same bug that Brody has. The doctor has been in practice for 32 years and has never missed a day for sickness until this bug hit. The doctor had blood in his stool.....sorry I know that's TMI.....but just illustrating what we are dealing with. Thankfully Brody hasn't had that problem.
I told our doctor everything, including that I would feel better if he saw Brody. He has been Brody's doctor from the moment he was born. He doesn't have the greatest bedside manner, but he is great at diagnosis and treatment and that's why we go to the doctor. When I showed him the anti-diarrheal he said he doesn't prescribe those. He says he finds if one is treated with an anti-diarrheal it tends to keep the virus running longer because it slows down the bowels. Made perfect sense to me....so no more pills. He also said that he is a personal expert on gastro-intestinal bugs. LOL He went to medical school in Mexico.....he said he has had more than his share of awful diarrhea bugs from living and traveling through Mexico. He also said the World Health Organization, which deals mostly with diarrhea in 3rd world countries, also recommends to use no anti-diarrheal. I was convinced. So I am hoping this will finally get this nasty bug out of Brody and he can resume his normal life!!!
I spent the rest of the day trying to get the house cleaned for Marna's birthday and for Easter. I didn't succeed.....still have a lot to do tomorrow. (Friday.....remember this is Thursday's blog! LOL). I went to the Maundy Thursday Communion service alone at 7:30. After being with kids all week, it was particularly nice to sit alone in the pew and enjoy the service.
Much bigger turnout than I expected, I was surprised.
Brody was up overnight (Wed.) throwing up and had about 5 episodes of diarrhea. I got super concerned and decided this morning to take him to OUR doctor even though he had just seen another in the practice the day before. They had to squeeze us in, as it is bedlam there because one of the other doctor's in the practice is in the hospital....suffering the same bug that Brody has. The doctor has been in practice for 32 years and has never missed a day for sickness until this bug hit. The doctor had blood in his stool.....sorry I know that's TMI.....but just illustrating what we are dealing with. Thankfully Brody hasn't had that problem.
I told our doctor everything, including that I would feel better if he saw Brody. He has been Brody's doctor from the moment he was born. He doesn't have the greatest bedside manner, but he is great at diagnosis and treatment and that's why we go to the doctor. When I showed him the anti-diarrheal he said he doesn't prescribe those. He says he finds if one is treated with an anti-diarrheal it tends to keep the virus running longer because it slows down the bowels. Made perfect sense to me....so no more pills. He also said that he is a personal expert on gastro-intestinal bugs. LOL He went to medical school in Mexico.....he said he has had more than his share of awful diarrhea bugs from living and traveling through Mexico. He also said the World Health Organization, which deals mostly with diarrhea in 3rd world countries, also recommends to use no anti-diarrheal. I was convinced. So I am hoping this will finally get this nasty bug out of Brody and he can resume his normal life!!!
I spent the rest of the day trying to get the house cleaned for Marna's birthday and for Easter. I didn't succeed.....still have a lot to do tomorrow. (Friday.....remember this is Thursday's blog! LOL). I went to the Maundy Thursday Communion service alone at 7:30. After being with kids all week, it was particularly nice to sit alone in the pew and enjoy the service.
Much bigger turnout than I expected, I was surprised.
This was to be Wednesday's blog, but Blogger wouldn't cooperate.
Another boring day in the life of a boring homemaker. Brody had a relapse and I took him to the doctor. The doctor says everything feels, looks, and sounds normal....keep the meds up as needed and if it hasn't cleared up by Monday, we will have to delve deeper. I have every confidence it will be but a memory by Monday and that will be that.
Brody was home from school again today and Marna had only a half-day. I love having my kids home from school, but boy does it make me lazy!! I was gladly suckered into several board games, a few rounds of back tickling, had two books read to me, and was even persuaded to go to 7-11 for Slurpees. We discovered that 7-11 has a new cup with three different sections for 3 different flavors of Slurpee.....this is the second time this week they have had Slurpees.....we now have a Slurpee moratorium in place. You CAN have too much of a good thing! The cleaning didn't get done, but we had fun and tomorrow is another day........
Another boring day in the life of a boring homemaker. Brody had a relapse and I took him to the doctor. The doctor says everything feels, looks, and sounds normal....keep the meds up as needed and if it hasn't cleared up by Monday, we will have to delve deeper. I have every confidence it will be but a memory by Monday and that will be that.
Brody was home from school again today and Marna had only a half-day. I love having my kids home from school, but boy does it make me lazy!! I was gladly suckered into several board games, a few rounds of back tickling, had two books read to me, and was even persuaded to go to 7-11 for Slurpees. We discovered that 7-11 has a new cup with three different sections for 3 different flavors of Slurpee.....this is the second time this week they have had Slurpees.....we now have a Slurpee moratorium in place. You CAN have too much of a good thing! The cleaning didn't get done, but we had fun and tomorrow is another day........
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
Marna had to get two more teeth extracted today. Her eye teeth.....man, no wonder they call them canines....you should see the size of these babies!! Big, long honking teeth. The dentist said she is tough....didn't even flinch with the novacaine needles. Perhaps that's because she has become an old pro at this!! Her mouth looks really strange now.....she has one upper tooth where there should be 6 teeth! I know it's temporary, but still very funky looking.
Brody is bummed. He has been growing his hair out for a while....in fact it's totally in his eyes. He wanted to grow it to part it in the middle. He wore it to school today, parted in the middle, and told me kids said he looked like a girl! He now wants a hair cut. Middle school kids are ruthless!
Brody is bummed. He has been growing his hair out for a while....in fact it's totally in his eyes. He wanted to grow it to part it in the middle. He wore it to school today, parted in the middle, and told me kids said he looked like a girl! He now wants a hair cut. Middle school kids are ruthless!
Monday, April 09, 2001
Sunday, April 08, 2001
I posted this on the two sites I frequent, but figured I would blog about it just in case someone missed my posts.
I don't normally ask for this type of thing....but I would appreciate some good thoughts being sent Brody's way.
He has had diarrhea all day.....over 20 times! And has vomited around 5 times.
I gave him 2 Immodium tablets around 2 and an additional one around 5. Around 7, when that wasn't cutting it and he was still going, I called the doctor.
Of course we didn't get our doctor, but another in the practice that we have seen before. He said a gastro-intestinal thing is going around and he called up a stronger anti-diarrheal to the pharmacy.
I gave him the two and he promptly threw up. I didn't see it, but feel sure they came up and gave him two more. I hope I did the right thing...we have to get this to stop!!!
He doesn't seem to feel bad other than the stomach....but right before he went to bed he was fading, I imagine he is feeling very weak.
So, I would greatly appreciate some good thoughts and tummy healing vibes sent his way! THANKS!
I don't normally ask for this type of thing....but I would appreciate some good thoughts being sent Brody's way.
He has had diarrhea all day.....over 20 times! And has vomited around 5 times.
I gave him 2 Immodium tablets around 2 and an additional one around 5. Around 7, when that wasn't cutting it and he was still going, I called the doctor.
Of course we didn't get our doctor, but another in the practice that we have seen before. He said a gastro-intestinal thing is going around and he called up a stronger anti-diarrheal to the pharmacy.
I gave him the two and he promptly threw up. I didn't see it, but feel sure they came up and gave him two more. I hope I did the right thing...we have to get this to stop!!!
He doesn't seem to feel bad other than the stomach....but right before he went to bed he was fading, I imagine he is feeling very weak.
So, I would greatly appreciate some good thoughts and tummy healing vibes sent his way! THANKS!
Proud mommy moments this morning. Brody's Sunday School group painted flower pots and potted hyacinths in them. They were each given the names and addresses of two elderly shut-ins from our church. Brody delivered them and the ladies were just thrilled with him and the flower!! Afterwards, he said, "Man, that felt good to do that!"
On the first Sunday of Lent, the kids in our church are given cardboard collection boxes for "One Great Hour of Sharing", to collect for the needy. Marna asked Mike for her allowance this morning before church and said she would like it in change, if we had it. When I asked why, she said she wanted to put all of her allowance in her collection box.
All church stories today.....well, it is Sunday! LOL I am on the board of Deacons at our church and every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter we collect food and give it to needy families in the area. Mike and I volunteered to deliver collected food and an Easter ham to a family this morning. I knew it was going to be bad, but I had no idea......I was in shock at this run-down home. I felt good to be helping them with food, but I wish it were more.
It made me keenly aware of all I take for granted. Luckily, I have always lived a very comfortable life and have no first-hand knowledge of what true poverty is. This home was a reality smack in the face for me!! I vowed the moment we walked in the door, to make a conscious effort to NEVER take for granted what we have.....to be thankful for not being dealt a different hand of fate. I will be praying that life will suddenly be kinder to this particular family and that their wallets will soon be as full as their hearts.
On the first Sunday of Lent, the kids in our church are given cardboard collection boxes for "One Great Hour of Sharing", to collect for the needy. Marna asked Mike for her allowance this morning before church and said she would like it in change, if we had it. When I asked why, she said she wanted to put all of her allowance in her collection box.
All church stories today.....well, it is Sunday! LOL I am on the board of Deacons at our church and every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter we collect food and give it to needy families in the area. Mike and I volunteered to deliver collected food and an Easter ham to a family this morning. I knew it was going to be bad, but I had no idea......I was in shock at this run-down home. I felt good to be helping them with food, but I wish it were more.
It made me keenly aware of all I take for granted. Luckily, I have always lived a very comfortable life and have no first-hand knowledge of what true poverty is. This home was a reality smack in the face for me!! I vowed the moment we walked in the door, to make a conscious effort to NEVER take for granted what we have.....to be thankful for not being dealt a different hand of fate. I will be praying that life will suddenly be kinder to this particular family and that their wallets will soon be as full as their hearts.
Saturday, April 07, 2001
Brody finally got to go a Sixers game last night. Mike took Brody and his friend, Kevin. And much to Brody's dismay, his hero.....Allen Iverson.....was injured and didn't play. He was disappointed, to say the least, but he did get to see him sitting on the bench and he was glad he could get to see him IRL. He came home with a Viewmaster... Sixers edition, that they gave to the first 500 people in line, a poster, a towel they give everyone to wave around, and a book. He has two towels (Mike's is the other one) and since he made a pillow in home ec. a couple of weeks ago, he wants to make a pillow out of the two Sixers' logo towels. My son is more domesticated than I!! Trouble with him making a pillow is we don't have a sewing machine!
Kevin stayed overnight since they didn't get home till around 11. Kevin is such a nice kid!! Brody has good taste in best friends. I would take 20 Kevins staying overnight to one of Marna's friends. When Marna and her friends get together they rifle through her entire room and the basement, scream the entire time and play N'Sync to top volume. Must be a girl thing.
While the boys were in Philly, Marna and I attended the local high school production of "Hello Dolly'. Her Brownie troop was having a family night out at the show, since some of the girls' had brothers and sisters in the production. We always go to the HS productions....they are very impressive for such young kids.....but "Hello Dolly" was not one of their best. Marna and I had a good time....she especially enjoyed going to Burger King first....no one else likes Burger King (me included), but I knew it would mean a lot to her for just the two of us to go.
An uneventful Saturday is in store for us today. No family excursions. Marna is attending a birthday party and I am going shopping for her birthday presents. Her birthday is next Friday!! Difficult to believe she will be 9 years old already!
Kevin stayed overnight since they didn't get home till around 11. Kevin is such a nice kid!! Brody has good taste in best friends. I would take 20 Kevins staying overnight to one of Marna's friends. When Marna and her friends get together they rifle through her entire room and the basement, scream the entire time and play N'Sync to top volume. Must be a girl thing.
While the boys were in Philly, Marna and I attended the local high school production of "Hello Dolly'. Her Brownie troop was having a family night out at the show, since some of the girls' had brothers and sisters in the production. We always go to the HS productions....they are very impressive for such young kids.....but "Hello Dolly" was not one of their best. Marna and I had a good time....she especially enjoyed going to Burger King first....no one else likes Burger King (me included), but I knew it would mean a lot to her for just the two of us to go.
An uneventful Saturday is in store for us today. No family excursions. Marna is attending a birthday party and I am going shopping for her birthday presents. Her birthday is next Friday!! Difficult to believe she will be 9 years old already!
Friday, April 06, 2001
Anyone who knows me from the boards, knows I am a sap. I cry at the drop of pin.....I have been known to go on a crying jag just watching a cat food commercial. It must come from my maternal grandmother. My mother told me that during the Depression, there was no heat in movie theaters. Patrons had to wear their coats to stay warm. My grandmother had a coat with a huge fur collar and would come out of the theater with the fur all wet on both sides from her wiping her tears!
I received an email from my brother and it would seem he inherited the same sap gene!!
A bit of background, so the email makes sense. He was perusing eBay for old Dick and Jane type reading books. He needs illustrations from that era as inspiration for some new job of his. He is a free-lance artist. In the email he mentions "Would You Rather be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee." That is an old record we have that is played on a Victrola (belonged to my sappy grandmother mentioned above). This record is SOOOO scratchy that the song is almost inaudible......but it's from WWI so I guess we can't complain. I hope I haven't confused anyone too much....here is Jared's email:
Speaking of e-bay . . .
One of my fondest things that remind me
of dad is that old Jackie Gleason 4 song
instrumental record of his.
I love that music. Trouble is it is in the worst
condition of any record I've ever heard.
"Would you rather be a Colonel with an Eagle
on your Shoulder or a Private with a Chicken
on your Knee" sounds like a remastered new
release compared to this gray disc of gouges
that I put on my ancient turntable.
So I says to myself, E-Bay?
Lo & behold, I found a copy in better condition.
$5. Cool. Then for the hell of it, I says to myself,
Maybe can I find one in better condition?
Wow, I found a freakin' CD! Amazing.
I cried like a baby.
Now that I have typed this out and copied and pasted, I don't know why I felt as though I had to blog about this! I guess it just surprises me that Jared still misses our dad as much as I do......even after 28 years.
I received an email from my brother and it would seem he inherited the same sap gene!!
A bit of background, so the email makes sense. He was perusing eBay for old Dick and Jane type reading books. He needs illustrations from that era as inspiration for some new job of his. He is a free-lance artist. In the email he mentions "Would You Rather be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee." That is an old record we have that is played on a Victrola (belonged to my sappy grandmother mentioned above). This record is SOOOO scratchy that the song is almost inaudible......but it's from WWI so I guess we can't complain. I hope I haven't confused anyone too much....here is Jared's email:
Speaking of e-bay . . .
One of my fondest things that remind me
of dad is that old Jackie Gleason 4 song
instrumental record of his.
I love that music. Trouble is it is in the worst
condition of any record I've ever heard.
"Would you rather be a Colonel with an Eagle
on your Shoulder or a Private with a Chicken
on your Knee" sounds like a remastered new
release compared to this gray disc of gouges
that I put on my ancient turntable.
So I says to myself, E-Bay?
Lo & behold, I found a copy in better condition.
$5. Cool. Then for the hell of it, I says to myself,
Maybe can I find one in better condition?
Wow, I found a freakin' CD! Amazing.
I cried like a baby.
Now that I have typed this out and copied and pasted, I don't know why I felt as though I had to blog about this! I guess it just surprises me that Jared still misses our dad as much as I do......even after 28 years.
Thursday, April 05, 2001
Can't think tonight.....my allergies are suddenly kicking butt. Brody and I just got back from the grocery store and he counted me sneezing 27 times on the way home.....a 10 minute ride!
Brody's thing for the past couple of months is to go to the grocery store with me. He is such a good helper. He arranges the items in the cart....just so, to maximize space. He helps put stuff on the belt, helps to bag and helps to put the bags in the car. So, the least I can do for him every week is buy him his big honking Mr. Goodbar! LOL
Brody's thing for the past couple of months is to go to the grocery store with me. He is such a good helper. He arranges the items in the cart....just so, to maximize space. He helps put stuff on the belt, helps to bag and helps to put the bags in the car. So, the least I can do for him every week is buy him his big honking Mr. Goodbar! LOL
Wednesday, April 04, 2001
And so it starts again......just when I thought it was a dead issue. I am tired of feeling the pull between sites and don't feel comfortable at either site at this point. It is incredible to me that this continues.
I don't like the innuendo being thrown about on either side....... saying half a dozen people forwarded this post to me throws a cloud of suspicion over innocent people.....only because they have friends on both sites.
Likewise, hinting that one person is not responsible for this....that others were involved, implicates people who may very well be innocent. Could not just one person have acted on their own? Why is it assumed that someone else must be involved?? Because one has a certain friend does not make them guilty of anything.
It saddens me that I no longer feel comfortable on sites that have posters I have known for over 4 years. I am guilty of nothing in this mess other than having friends who don't get along. But because of that fact I no longer feel as though I belong on either site. I refuse to choose between friends and it feels to me that if I don't choose, I will never be trusted at either site.
I don't like the innuendo being thrown about on either side....... saying half a dozen people forwarded this post to me throws a cloud of suspicion over innocent people.....only because they have friends on both sites.
Likewise, hinting that one person is not responsible for this....that others were involved, implicates people who may very well be innocent. Could not just one person have acted on their own? Why is it assumed that someone else must be involved?? Because one has a certain friend does not make them guilty of anything.
It saddens me that I no longer feel comfortable on sites that have posters I have known for over 4 years. I am guilty of nothing in this mess other than having friends who don't get along. But because of that fact I no longer feel as though I belong on either site. I refuse to choose between friends and it feels to me that if I don't choose, I will never be trusted at either site.
Big doings in the life of a boring homemaker. Marna made 'punch' ......juice from a juice box and ginger ale, in a freaking bowl and put in the fridge. Not knowing it was there in the back, I bumped it and of course it spilled all over. Now I have to clean out the fridge. I hate cleaning out the fridge.
Tuesday, April 03, 2001
Sunday, April 01, 2001
I don't know WTH is up with this font stuff.....every time I try it and hit post and publish it comes up differently. So be it....I ain't gonna' worry about it.
I see many people commenting on other's blogs....that is so nice!!! But I am not sure this peri-menopausal brain can remember all of the comments I would like to make about everyone's blogs. I am not into taking notes as this is a pleasure activity and taking notes would involve WORK! LOL Please know that I am reading and loving all blogs even though I don't comment about them here..
We just got home from church and I am ticked off. Every week all during the service, Brody and Marna are constantly bugging me about not wanting to go to Sunday School. We go downstairs after the service and as I hand Brody his envelope, he smacks it out of my hand and sends it flying. That was the last straw for me. I said, "Fine, you don't have to go to Sunday School because we are going home. You are both going to spend Sunday School time in your room with no music, no phone calls. I hope you have some good books to read!" So they are both up in their rooms.....I will probably parole them after lunch.
45 lousy minutes from their week to attend Sunday School, 45 minutes in which I would hope they would learn something and it has become such a hassle. I have a feeling I won't be hearing their complaints next week! LOL
I see many people commenting on other's blogs....that is so nice!!! But I am not sure this peri-menopausal brain can remember all of the comments I would like to make about everyone's blogs. I am not into taking notes as this is a pleasure activity and taking notes would involve WORK! LOL Please know that I am reading and loving all blogs even though I don't comment about them here..
We just got home from church and I am ticked off. Every week all during the service, Brody and Marna are constantly bugging me about not wanting to go to Sunday School. We go downstairs after the service and as I hand Brody his envelope, he smacks it out of my hand and sends it flying. That was the last straw for me. I said, "Fine, you don't have to go to Sunday School because we are going home. You are both going to spend Sunday School time in your room with no music, no phone calls. I hope you have some good books to read!" So they are both up in their rooms.....I will probably parole them after lunch.
45 lousy minutes from their week to attend Sunday School, 45 minutes in which I would hope they would learn something and it has become such a hassle. I have a feeling I won't be hearing their complaints next week! LOL
Saturday, March 31, 2001
Marna had a terrific time at Night Flight, as expected. The kids bounced out of the van when I went to pick her up, and the adults barely crawled out!! I was told by the leader that there was no sleeping until 2:30 AM!!
Marna was talking so fast when she was telling me all they had done. She was most excited to see a bald eagle and a joey in mama kangaroo's pouch. They toured the zoo in the dark and again this morning. She was most disappointed that all the primates were asleep both times!
They attended two programs....one with animals from the children's zoo that they were all able to pet. I am told the rabbit was softer than our kittens. They had a snack around 10 o'clock and breakfast was 'icky Cheerios, not like ours". Last stop of the day was the souvenir shop.....Marna brought home another stuffed animal, a Diana monkey. I thought I was fairly well informed about monkeys, but I have never heard of a Diana monkey......I will have to look that one up.
After lunch we decided to go shopping. It was to be a family trip, but Marna told me she wanted it to be a girls' only trip, so we left the boys at home. We live in the middle of New Jersey farm country and we have to drive 45 minutes to get to anywhere. I thought for sure Marna would fall asleep on the ride there or back....she did neither!! She talked my ear off instead and informed me on the way home that she was glad she had a mother who liked to talk and listen. She said she is glad I am not a mother who tells her kids to shut up like some mothers she has seen in stores.
Luckily, we found a pair of sneakers we both agreed upon in the first store we hit. We went to a few other stores and came home.
Marna is now in bed, snoring away.....she has to make up for the loss of sleep last night and the loss of the hour we will lose tonight with Daylights Savings Time. I hope we can wake her up for church tomorrow morning!!
Marna was talking so fast when she was telling me all they had done. She was most excited to see a bald eagle and a joey in mama kangaroo's pouch. They toured the zoo in the dark and again this morning. She was most disappointed that all the primates were asleep both times!
They attended two programs....one with animals from the children's zoo that they were all able to pet. I am told the rabbit was softer than our kittens. They had a snack around 10 o'clock and breakfast was 'icky Cheerios, not like ours". Last stop of the day was the souvenir shop.....Marna brought home another stuffed animal, a Diana monkey. I thought I was fairly well informed about monkeys, but I have never heard of a Diana monkey......I will have to look that one up.
After lunch we decided to go shopping. It was to be a family trip, but Marna told me she wanted it to be a girls' only trip, so we left the boys at home. We live in the middle of New Jersey farm country and we have to drive 45 minutes to get to anywhere. I thought for sure Marna would fall asleep on the ride there or back....she did neither!! She talked my ear off instead and informed me on the way home that she was glad she had a mother who liked to talk and listen. She said she is glad I am not a mother who tells her kids to shut up like some mothers she has seen in stores.
Luckily, we found a pair of sneakers we both agreed upon in the first store we hit. We went to a few other stores and came home.
Marna is now in bed, snoring away.....she has to make up for the loss of sleep last night and the loss of the hour we will lose tonight with Daylights Savings Time. I hope we can wake her up for church tomorrow morning!!
Friday, March 30, 2001
I am a happy mommy right now. Marna is SO excited and that makes me happy. She and her Brownie troop (14 other girls) are going to a special program at the Philadelphia Zoo tonight. They leave at 6:00 PM. It is called Night Flight. They will be attending seminars, seeing shows, touring the Zoo in the dark and of course they will be visiting the required souvenir shops! At midnight they will retire to the Treehouse in the Children's Zoo section. There they will be bedding down with other groups....150 kids in all....and attempt sleep....(yeah, right!!). Marna is just on cloud nine and I know she will have such a great time!! She will be one tired little Brownie when we pick her up at her leader's house tomorrow morning at 11!!!!