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.
Tuesday, May 01, 2001
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.