2007

Every year I have a theme for the year. They usually are simple themes in theory, but complex in nature.

I write them in my bible sometime in December each year.

In 1997 it was Marriage.

In 1998 it was Embrace. This was a image I had while praying one morning as I watched the sunrise on freezing day in December. I saw me as a child being hugged by Jesus. Then I noticed that I was not hugging him back. I felt like my whole life I had been comforted by Christ in times of trouble and that 1998 was the year I was to learn to embrace Him. For me I was a hard lesson.

In 1999 it was Enlarge. Which was painful, as enlarging and stretching out always is.

In 2000 it was Love. And mostly to love myself.

In 2001 it was Wisdom....which proved to be quite helpful.

In 2002 it was Brokenness...and I wound up in the hospital fighting for my life.

In 2003 it was Boldness and rebuilding in His image.

In 2004 it was Forgiveness. Mostly forgiving myself.

In 2005 it was Friendships.

In 2006 it was Get Ready.

Now I feel that 2007 is the year for Change in my life.

As I meditate on the theme "change" a well-known prayer comes to mind:

God,
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

When I was about 8 years old, I accepted Christ into my life. Around the same time, my mom got a thermometer in the mail from her insurance agent. The thermometer had this prayer on the reverse side and I asked if I could keep it.

Along with God's merciful grace, the Serenity Prayer became the guidance I never received from my parents. I became a child who analyzed every minute situation..."Can I accept what is happening with peace in my heart?" "can I change what is happening?" "Do I know if I can change anything in this instance?" "How would I do this differently if I was a parent?"

These were questions I would constantly ask myself throughout my growing years. I feel like I raised myself (and I feel I did a damn good job).

2007 is the year for change. A change in where I am going to live, a change in where I'm going to work and a change in how I plan for my future.

Sounds like a lot in one year, but since my former husband left me in 2001 (that's when 9/11 happened and he relapsed into his addictions), I feel like I've been spinning my wheels as I have been gaining my strength and becoming whole again.

Two years ago I met a wonderful man, Capt, his amazing children and his family. I am happier than I've ever been. Many of you have been asking where our relationship is going. I still can't answer that question. Capt and I discuss marriage. We love the time we spend together. I adore his children...he tolerates mine (They're grown). Yet, I trust that we will both make a wise decision in the future. And that's all I can say about that.

2007 is the year the rubber is going to hit the road in my life.

Keep me in your prayers as I will keep you all in mine.

MAY 2007 BE A BLESSED YEAR FOR YOU ALL!!!!!

The Life of D

Here is a little poem for PookieBear, or "D" as she likes to be called now that she has her own blog. Go check her out at The Life of D.


A is for Adorable
B is for Basketball
C is for Cookies, Chocolate Chip right out of the Oven
D is for D
E is for Exciting
F is for Flexible
G is for Girly Girl
H is for Hungry
I is for Intelligent
J is for Just Like Her Dad
K is for Kit Kat
L is for Lovable
M is for Mashed Potatoes with Gravy from a can only
N is for Never A Pain in the Butt, except for the gravy in the can thing, LOL
O is for Oh My Land, did I say "Butt"?
P is for Popular
Q is for Quiet (when she plays on her travel team)
R is for Real with her feelings
S is for Sister
T is for Teacher
U is for Unconditional (even when you do something wrong, she still likes you)
V is for Very Very Fun to be around
W is for WWF
X is for X-Terra
Y is for Youthful
Z is for Zzzzzzzzzzz

No Such Luck!!!!!

Last night Jen, Mom, Dad and me went to NYC to meet Jen's boyfriend's parents, have dinner together and see the tree. I had a hunch that Mikey was going to "pop the question" to Jen....so did Mom, and so did Jen. But it didn't happen and that's fine.

It was truly a fun night, a fun, late night. We got home at 1:15am and when I woke up at 4:30am the first thing I noticed was a familar minty taste in my mouth, as if I just finished brushing my teeth. Then I realized that, basically, I just had. I don't know how I stayed awake all day but I did. I usually am in bed by 8pm.

Here are some pictures of last night's extravaganza for you.

Me, Jen, Mom and Dad:

Dad, Mom, Mikey's parents, me and Mikey


Jen Mom and me


May you all have a blessed holiday and and prosperous, healthy New Year.

One down, two to go?

Tomorrow night, my daughter's boyfriend invited me and my parents to take a limo ride into New York City with his parents to look at the Christmas tree and do all sorts of Christmas-y stuff in the city.

About two years ago, he asked permission to marry my daughter. I said, "I would be honored to have you as a son-in-law", or something nerdy to that effect. Then I wrote up a legal contract, in jest, enumerating all the conditions, i.e., a diamond engagement ring valued at a least two months of his salary. IT WAS ONLY A JOKE!!!!, but he framed the Notorized contract and it hangs on the wall of his apartment, or so I'm told.

Well, it just hit me this morning that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow night is the night that he "pops the question" to my daughter. He's all about surprises and that sounds like something he would do.

If so, I'd better bring lots of Kleenex, 'cause I'll be all teary.

ChaChaChaChanges

There are things about my job that I cannot share with anyone. Not that it's top secret, but I have a sick job. And anyway, if I talked about some of the things I do at my job, it would curl your hair, or straighten it, or it will fall out, or turn gray, or something drastic involving your hair....of this I am sure. Oh yeah, and there's that tiny confidentiality thing where I can't talk about my cases or the attorneys I work for could serve time in the slammer.

Many times I have to stand back and get a perspective of what I am actually doing for a living.

I became a paralegal because I wanted to use my brain. I wanted to 'assist' because I've always been someone who functions best when assisting rather than taking full charge of something. Also, my practical side decided that since my children's father was constantly dragging me to court I would save on attorney's fees if I became a paralegal; that certainly proved to be correct.

The thing is, I never imagined what it would be like in this position. The things I do are sometimes sneaky, backhanded and coldly calculated. Indeed, most of my job entails doing things that are wonderful and give me a sense of doing something right for the world, like showing parents how to better parent their children by getting over the hate and vengence aimed towards their co-parent. And whipping non-custodial parents into shape for falling behind in their child support....that's always fun.

This career of mine has enabled me to survive in one of the most expensive places in the United States, Long Island, New York while raising three children. And for that I am thankful.

And so, it is time. I must change careers. Being a matrimonial paralegal is sucking the ever-loving life out of me. And I'm finally at a stage in my life where it's about me and what's good for me...not just about survival. Moreover, 'busting up families' is a very strange career....especially for a Christian.

Since this has been weighing heavy on my heart for the past year or more, and even more so these past months, I'm going to start focusing on a new career this year - a really huge New Year's resolution.

And selling my big ole house.

And moving to Connecticut.

And purchasing a small house or condo in Connecticut.

And getting a job in my new career in Connecticut.

Yeah, 2007 is going to be a year of complete change and uprooting for me.

And I'm so excited.....and scared.

The Coach Bonnie Puffer Jacket

Okay already people, here it is in all its glory:
(Mom took the pictures when I was leaving for work this morning, this one is of the inside, she insisted you all see the inside where all the Coach insignias are - but they didn't show up).


And here is the jacket on me (don't look at the messy kitchen, I can't keep up with all the housekeeping with my parents here - for a whole month!)

Whaaaaaahhhhh

Here is a perfect example of how spoiled I truly am:

I’ve been drooling over a jacket I saw at a store last month. It’s not an ordinary jacket, it’s the most perfect jacket in the whole universe. And it’s a Coach. It’s the Bonnie Puffer Jacket for 2006, in black...with the fur collar and toggle clasps, all quilted and downy and such. A piece of fine art I tell you.

So for my birthday, after much not so subtle hint dropping, my wonderful family got together and pooled their hard earned cash to purchase the work of art jacket for my spoiled self. Except, the Coach store didn’t have it in stock anymore. Instead they gave me a hefty gift certificate from Coach so I can purchase it myself.

No problem; like I said, I’ve been drooling over the jacket all month, pulling up the picture on my computer at work and my laptop at home 200 times a day, imagining its warmth hugging my body.

So this morning, as soon as I got to work I went to look at it again and purchase it through Coach dot com. But it wasn’t there anymore. So I called the Coach company. They told me that they sold them all....except two...all over the world there are only two left! I didn’t bring the gift certificate to work with me so I couldn’t order it then.

Unless I go home during lunch and get my gift certificate and order it lickity-split, my dream jacket is just that....a dream. I’m not very optimistic about this. It was a nice fantasy though.

For the past four years a dear friend (who had gained some substantial weight) graciously lent me her blush white fox full length fur. She was able to fit back into her fur this year so I gave it back to her.....or she might have had to pry it out of my steel grip...either way, I don’t possess it anymore. The fur was warm and elegant and it made me feel beautiful and touchable during a time when my world was crashing down around me. Anyway you’d be surprised how elegant you can feel going food shopping in sweats and sneakers donning a full length fur. I might have slept on top of it a few times too, might have.

So maybe I did put too much importance on getting the 2006 Bonnie Puffer Jacket due to the fur's absence. But I can’t help but feel like having myself a good cry.....like a good spoiled brat should.

*****UPDATE!!!!! My daughter called, she found one by calling all over, in a Coach store, in my size. They were graceous enough to hold it aside until tonight when we go pick it up. It's quite a distance, but do-able. Do I have a great daughter or what?

Capt got me the cookware I've been eyeing, Rachael Ray's new orange set. They are so beautiful! I already used the skillet a few times and what a difference! I love these pots and pans! He also sent me 2 dozen red roses, cause he loves me.

My boys got me an electronic picture frame which shows hundreds of pictures on a screen and it is an MP3 player too. Love it!

My parents got me a pair of black cowboy boots. They are really nice boots that have to get broken in.

My office sent me a bouquet of edible fruit....yummy.

I got lots of calls, text messages and e-mails too.

Thanks everyone for making my birthday special, I love you all.

Just pretend that there's a witty title here, k?

Today’s my birthday, my birthday, my birthday. Me and my kids just always say it like that.

Thanks for all your good wishes, e-mails and comments. And yes, I really am only 35.....plus some....and some more...and maybe a little tad more than that. But I feel like I’m 35. I’ll post tomorrow about all the great gifts I got. But I think I already got my best gift today. I got a call from a new friend, we went to his house for Thanksgiving. They met my two boys for the first time. They met my daughter last summer. Jack called me and told me that my children were remarkable, successful and so personable. He also told me that it is a reflection on the parent I was to them. I’ve never truly stood back and looked at them from another’s perspective before. Hearing that was a wonderful gift that I am always going to treasure.

Oh and here’s a cute something that Capt’s son said yesterday while driving me and PookieBear back from the ballet:

Boy: looking out the rear window of the car at the sunset with long streaks of jet smoke trailing into the horizon, “Dad, is that a comet in the sky?”

Capt: “No son”

Boy: “Oh, good, I was worried there for a minute.”

I just love that kid!

The Nutcracker was magical. I had a great time with PookieBear. It was such a “girly, girl” thing to do and I loved having her to see it with. We made a gingerbread house before we left, something I’ve always wanted to do but never did. It was fun. I bet by now it’s all to pieces and devoured......Kids, don’t you just love them?

I'm back.....for now

I really appreciate the "flack" I've been getting for not posting in awhile, thank you all, it makes me feel soooooo loved.

The reasons are many, and I'm in Connecticut today for a day of fun and getting away from the madness at home, so I'll just post the most important:

My 24 year old son, Tom, who is 6'3" (when he doesn't slouch - I'm such a Jewish Mother) and is very thin to begin with, became one of those unfortunate people who ate at Taco Bell last week and suffered through the horrific e-coli contamination. I had to get Tom to the hospital at one point to get him re-hydrated. They gave him some morphine for the pain too. It was scary. Even when your children are as old as mine are, you still have those same "mommy" feelings as if they are still your babies. Now that it is over (as of yesterday morning) he is so thin that he looks like he was in a prison camp, or worse. Anyone with any ideas on how to fatten him up quick? He did eat a bagel with eggs, cheese and bacon yesterday....about 1200 calories.

My parents are up from South Carolina for the month. They have been a great help with all the craziness going around. I am showing Dad how the South Beach Diet works and making him the meals since he is at the most he's ever weighed and his heart doctor wants him to lose some.

My 26 year old son had one of his plays produced in White Plains, called "Stress Fracture". He worked hard on the play and it showed. I don't think I've ever been more proud of him.

I am putting my house on the market again in January. This time I am fixing everything that needs to get fixed. Since the market is flooded, no buyer wants to purchase a house that needs work. So had the upstairs bathroom remodeled (I did a lot of the work myself and saved tons of money, and babysat/house sat until yesterday in exchange....that was time consuming)

And Christmas time is here and I'm not prepared. I put the tree up yesterday while my daughter and Dad painted one of the bedrooms. Mom and I went shopping at 7am and got some stuff done. While there I bought myself a new handbag for my BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!!! I will be 35 again, that's what I'm sayin' if asked.

That's pretty much what's been going on in my life since Thanksgiving.

Life gets busy at times for us all, priorities shift, we bend, adjust, adapt, all in all its all good.

Now, I've got to start getting ready for church and then......THE NUTCRACKER SUITE with PookieBear.

Have a great Sunday!

And Yet....

What a wonderful, glorious Thanksgiving. Actually two Thanksgivings. One on Shelter Island with my children and Capt and the other with Capt and his family.

It’s been a whirlwind of a week. An exhausting week. It’s great to be home, well sort of. I’m staying at a neighbor’s house watching his children while he is in Aruba with his girlfriend. I’m doing him this favor because he totally remodeled one of my bathrooms for an obscene discount. OBSCENE I tell you!

Anyway, I’ve been pondering something for a few days. When you focus on one thing so intently, like painters do when they focus on painting just a leaf on a tree, you fail to see the whole picture clearly. This weekend I got to meet, now try to follow me here, Capt’s ex-wife’s fiance’s ex-wife. Her children are going to be Capt’s children step siblings this summer.

As a side note, many of you know that I am a matrimonial paralegal and I specialize in custody and visitation matters. I see it all, the bad and ugly mostly....and very, very, rarely the good.

Meeting Kate (not her real name, but one of my favorite names because I really like her) was kind of mind-boggling, and great. We watched PookieBear and Kate’s daughter at basketball practice, they are on the same team since her children and Capt’s children reside together half of the time. Most of the time I sit there feeling a little uncomfortable, so does she.

Kate and Capt are in the same position, each co-parenting with their former spouses. They make it work. I asked Kate how she gets passed all the hurt and Kate said something to me that Capt says all the time, “I focus on what’s best for my kids”.

If more divorced parents actually looked past the leaf of anger and vengeance and saw the harmony in the distance that awaits for their children, children would be more balanced . And I’d be unemployed. And I’d get some good sleep.

And yet.

SECOND Post a Deed

Here it is Tuesday again. It always appears to me that as the holidays get closer, the days go more quickly.

I have received several more deeds to post, one of these I copied from a comment on another blog when there was a discussion about the holidays.

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

1. My absolute best Christmas memory was as a kid when we bought a very needy family an ENTIRE Christmas, bikes for the kids, groceries, tons of stuff...left it on their doorstep and rang the bell and hid...
That was priceless.

2. I'm 11 years old and I volunteer at a local Nursing Home.

3. On Thanksgiving I make an announcement at church to invite people that don't have a place to come over my house for the day.

4. I pick out a letter from the post office addressed to Santa every year and get a gift for the child that wrote it.

5. After my neighbor's husband died in 9/11, I try to spend time with her children and do things with them that their father used to do.

If you'd like to send me a deed to post anonymously, please email me at BlessedOne1211@Yahoo.com.

First Post A Deed

Well, this is the first "Post A Deed". Every Tuesday I plan on posting 10 deeds that you send to me in an effort to encourage, heal and lighten our spirits. Here goes:

1. I was standing outside my apartment and saw a woman with a backpack talking to the police, shaking her head and obviously protesting something. I didn't pay her much mind because I was off to church.

On the way to church, I stopped in at the local coffeeshop and she was there, standing and looking out the window. "Everything OK?" I asked her. Seeing her surprise that I spoke I told her. "I saw you and the police talking a few minutes ago."

"I'm on my way to my sister's" she said, but they thought I was homeless, so I told them I was meeting someone here. But I don't know anyone here and they are watching me to see if I meet anyone. If I don't, they want to take me downtown." I could see why they thought her homeless. And honestly, she might have been. She was disheveled, unkempt and smelled.

"Then have a cup of coffee with me." I said. "We'll sit in the front window and you can wave at them." And that's what we did. She talked for half an hour and it turned out she really was homeless, but going to see her sister, but she had to get to the bus station. I drove her to the bus pickup on the way to church and left her there.

"Thank you." she said. "For treating me like a person. I don't get a lot of that."

And people wondered why I was smiling at church that day!

2. I am a school teacher but unable to work because of physical disabilities..I look after my 75 yr old Mom and 84 yr old aunt. We manage on pension money. I work (voluntary) for my small church too.


3. When I found out that someone I knew was contemplating suicide, I took him out to dinner and a movie and made sure he was getting the professional help he needs. He told me how much he enjoyed feeling happy again.

4. The pastor and his wife at my church are struggling financially. Once a month I volunteer to babysit so they can have a date night together.

5. The elderly woman in front of me at the supermarket checkout counter was digging in her purse for coins to pay for her groceries. I was apparent that she was confused and on a limited budget. When she wasn't looking, I handed the cashier extra money to pay her bill.

6. I wrote a thank you note to my old teacher letting her know that I appreciated all the time she took to help me learn. I was a difficult child.

7. I overheard a young mother explaining to her daughter why they couldn’t afford new clothes at WalMart, so I handed the little girl a hundred dollar bill and told the mother that I once struggled like that too. Then I walked away very quickly.

8. While I was walking down a busy street I passed a woman who was crying hysterically. I turned around and asked if she needed a hug.

9. I gave a neighborhood teenager a ride when I saw that she was caught in the rainstorm without an umbrella.

10. When a woman was stuck in the store during her lunch hour because of a torrential downpour without an umbrella, I walked her to her office and shared my umbrella with her, even though we both got half soaked.


I hope you enjoyed these.

If you'd like to send a deed you can e-mail me at BlessedOne1211 at Yahoo.com.

Veteran's Day

In honor of Veteran's Day I'd like to say thanks to all the soldiers that have fought, are awaiting deployment and are fighting for this country. And special thanks to my boyfriend Capt, who is an officer in the National Guard and Air Force, You Rock Babe!

And a special thanks from me, PookieBear and Boy to the military bigwigs for your repeated postponement of Capt's deployment to Afghanistan....Sirs, you rock too, Sirs! *salutes*

Inspiration

Wow, check THIS out.

I am speechless.

Saturday Night

Saturday Night:

Capt: "Babe, it's only 8:30, I can't fall asleep this earl..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Me: "Giggle, giggle, gigglzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

OH YES....WE ARE SUCH PARTY ANIMALS!!!!!!!

Post a Good Deed

I'd like to try something new. Every Tuesday I'd like to post good deeds that you send to me via e-mail.

I got the idea from the sites about true confessions and post a secret. I got to thinking that it would be nice to read about good things that people have done in secret.

Many of us, me included, believe that it is better to do something and not let anyone else that we've done it.....you know, "Don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing" kind of thing. This would be a great way of not only still keeping it anonymous, but give other blog readers ideas of good deeds that they might like to do for someone else.

I'll give an example:

When I saw the teenagers collectively counting their dollars to come up with the cost of the pizza pie, I pulled out my wallet and paid their tab. The look of surprise and delight on their faces was priceless.

If you'd like to join in you can e-mail me at: BlessedOne1211 at Yahoo.com I will keep your deed confidential and post them on Tuesdays.

Please Pray

Good Morning Friends,

I'd like to ask you to pray for a family from the small town in Connecticut that I speak of frequently.

From what I've been told, this past Saturday a 12 year old boy and his parents were arguing. The boy told his parents that he was going to "hang himself" and stormed out of the room. A while later the father came in and found him. It appears that the boy attempted his threat and accidentally died.

I just cannot image the pain the family is going through.

The two issues I am praying about are these:

First: That the father, and family, feel the loving presence of grace and peace of our Father. That a spirit of forgiveness enters into their hearts in a supernatural way.

Second: That the children of the town keep a levelness of reality during this time of grief. That these children do not idolize the attention that this incident has generated. That the parents, teachers and school staff in the town have the wisdom to guide their children through the grief correctly.

Thank you.

Open Letter to My Son, Dave

Dear Dave,

I never thought I could love you more than the day I first saw your pudgy angelic face. But I do, each day I love you even more. You are my first born son and that will always be a place of honor in my life.

But Dave, what the heck is going on? Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we were closer than that, I thought you were in a different place in your life. I thought you were heading towards your goal of becoming a great screenplay writer, full force. I am so proud of what you have done with your life.

Here you are in your third year of one of the most difficult writing conservatories in the country. My god Dave, only 20 students out of 2,000 applicants get in and you and Scarlett Johansen were picked. Scarlett Johansen Dave! Okay, she dropped out last minute to pursue “something” else, but you are with the best and you are at the top of your class.

You are in college. You have an SUV that is reliable, dependable and in good condition. What ever possessed you to purchase a brand new motorcycle? While you are in college? When you don’t even have any place to put it? When it just sits in the college parking lot ready for someone to come by with a truck and steal it? When you are supposed to be concentrating on your writing? When you are struggling financially? When you are planning on moving to China next year for a whole year? When it about to start snowing where you live? Where oh where are you going to store this overpriced DANGEROUS toy? Huh? And............. what if you get hurt...... or worse.......?

You purchased this three months ago and I‘m only finding out about it now. And only because I needed something in your room and found the paperwork.

Is it because I went ballistic when you were 21 and I was waking you up and found out that you had a huge tattoo on your back that you had gotten months before? Is it because I help you out financially while you are in college and you are afraid I will stop?

I’m glad your credit is so excellent that you can finance a $10,000 motorcycle. I really am. And I’m glad that you are enjoying your 20's. I really am. I’m glad that you are working on your lifelong dream. And I am proud of you that you are successful at what you are doing.

I’m just not really sure you made a good decision here. And I usually trust that you do make the right decisions. I’m just hurt that you made this decision, hid it from me, and forced me see how independent you really are from me.

You know I love you. No matter what. Just tell me one thing...when you cross the street you look both ways, right?

Feelin' Groovy

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a week. Not only have I been feeling a bit out of sorts with my personal life, but I've hired a contractor to gut and re-do one of my bathrooms. It's been a lot of planning and cleaning.

This bathroom is one that my son primarily uses. It is beyond disgusting. It should have been gutted out 15 years ago. We found the aftermath of a major Carpenter Ant attack.

The bathtub was plain gross. I know I hadn't cleaned it in quite some time....not my job.

Last night when I got home from work I noticed that someone had come by and taken the bathtub out of the pile of garbage. Now I'm really grossed out.

Change Stations Now(Curves lingo):

I love when my three children and I are hanging out together. It's very rare that we are all together at the same time. We had a great weekend....just like old times.

Saturday night my twins and I got to go out for sushi. Tom didn't want to come. We got to talking about how me and Dave want to try a dangerous sushi made from blowfish. Jen thought we were crazy and told us we will probably die if we try it.

No, the restaurant we were at doesn't serve blowfish...but a split second after I told Jen that if I did die she is the beneficiary of one-third of my life insurance policy she responded, Bon Appetite!!!

Yea, that's my Jen for you.

Change Stations Now:

I made an apple pie this weekend and I ate 2 little pieces. And if I do say so myself, it was one of the best I ever made.

I hate, hate, hate to throw away food.

This morning as I was putting away the last piece of pie (in tupperware, not in my pie hole) there was a little bit of the pie innerds leftover. I was about to scrape them into the garbage when I thought, "Mmmmmmm, wouldn't this stuff taste mighty fine on top of my oatmeal"? Yes it did! And now I'm wondering if the apple pie filling negates the healthiness of the oatmeal. What do you think?

Change Stations Now:

I woke up this morning with the song "Feelin' Groovy" in my head. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

Change Stations Now:

I really want the song, "Won't You Take Me to Funky Town" stuck in my head today because it sounds like a much better place to be instead of work.


Change Stations Now:

This is my 100th post.....just sayin'

Change Sations Now:

See, I'm back. And I'm off to work now. Drop me a comment, I'd love to hear from ya
'all.....

What I Overheard....

A tender Sunday evening conversation:

Boy (in the process of taking a shower): DAD!
Dad: Yes son.
Boy: Will I be with you this week ?
Dad: No son, you will be with your mom until Sunday morning when I pick you up.
Boy: Why won’t I be with you for the weekend?
Dad: I’m going to a conference on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will be home late so I will pick you up early in the morning.
Boy: Where is the conference?
Dad: In Chicago.
Boy: Is that far?
Dad: Yes.
Boy: What kind of conference?
Dad: ADHD conference.
Boy: Did you set up the conference, Dad, you know, call everyone to be there?
Dad: No, I didn’t son.
Boy: Why are you going?
Dad: To learn more about ADHD.
Boy: Like what I have?
Dad: Yes.
Boy: Who else is going?
Dad: Hundreds of people, people who are parents with children that have ADHD and ADD, teachers....lots of us will be there.
Boy: Oh. (pause)
Boy: I love you Dad.
Dad: I love you too son.

Topless?

For your amusement, a cell phone to cell phone call last night:

Dave: "Hello Mom, I just wanted to call you, Fran and I are in Brooklyn in a tapas restaurant.

Me: "You're in a topless restaurant???????"

Dave: "TAPAS, Mom, TAPAS!!!!"

Me: "Dave, what are you doing in a topless restaurant?"

Dave: "It's not topless Mom.....Fran is just about on the floor laughing right now, I've gotta go."

I'm Bringin' Sexy Back

First of all, I love peach/blueberry pies. I used to make pies and sell them when my children were young for extra income. I do not like or eat pie, but for some reason I love peach/blueberry pies.

In the second phase of the South Beach Diet there is a yogurt smoothie recipe for breakfast. When the day came for me to enjoy one, I was ecstatic. I made a strawberry/blueberry one. It was delicious.

The next week I was going over to Connecticut to see Capt and I made sure I asked him if he had a blender. He assured me that he did. That's when I planned on trying a peach/blueberry smoothie reminescent of the pie I love so very much. Excitement filled the air as I carefully packed up all the fixin's for the weekend, including ingredients for the smoothie that I was so craving.

When I woke up the next morning in CT, I got out of bed and proceeded to make the Peach/blueberry smoothie. There might have even been a few dance moves to show my excitement. But alas, no blender. Capt looked for it and then remember that he left it at work. He was making protein shakes and forgot about it still being there. I was disappointed and ate the yogurt and blueberries separately without their delectable blendature. Still, I felt like I had been somehow gypped.

This morning, after Curves, I went food shopping. I planned some meals last night and needed the ingredients. This morning's breakfast was going to be a spinach frittata, but the grocery store was Too crowded and took longer than I expected. So I got this great idea - why not make my peach/blueberry smoothie? Yeah, I was excited again!

I got home, unpacked the bags and proceeded to formulate the most expensive (blueberries are not in season here), delicious smoothie ever created. The blender was whirling away. I took out a piece of Waterford stemware, just to make it more purdier.

When I lifted the glass off of the blender to pour, the bottom of the glass part stayed and all of my peach/blueberry smoothie went all over me, my dog, the floor, the counter, the cabinets, the throw rug and stovetop.

It took me an hour to clean it all up. Those blueberries stain stuff! Even after my shower, I still found some smooched blueberry behind my neck....yes I did!

I’m guessing I’ll never have the pleasure of enjoying a peach/blueberry smoothie. (But *ahem* I might have tried a few spoonfuls off of the countertop, maybe, and *ahem* if I actually did to that, it was *ahem* worth it. And if I did it while purply goodness dripped off of my hair and face, I’m so very glad that there was no one there to see me.)

***I would have taken a photo for all of you to see but not only would I have dripped all over the house to get the camera, the blueberries were staining my white kitchen cabinets so I had to work really fast, plus the dog was dripping with it too, and I didn't want him to move an inch.

Wordless Wednesday

Shhhh, it's 3am and the carpet is still in the foyer.

The Life of T

I've been feeling a bit lonely lately; sometimes I get like that. I came up with an idea, not a great idea, but an idea nonetheless. I'd like to bring you all with me for 24 hours so you can see the life I lead. I'm gonna start right now and see if I can keep adding onto this post for 24 hours.

Wanna come?

7:30pm - just came home from work and sitting on my bed typing away as the tub fills up for a bubble bath. This is my bed, I just got a new comforter:



Now if you will excuse me I'll take my bath:


And I'm in bed by 8:30. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

5:30am - GOOD MORNING! Excuse me while I go downstairs and get my wake up, Mineral water with lemon....yea, I know - boring, but I gave up my beloved Pepsi last month *sob* no more caffeine for YewNorkBabe.


While I was in the kitchen I planned out by breakfast - oatmeal pancakes, strawberries and grapefruit. For lunch I'll have chicken, apple and walnut salad. I marinated the chicken breasts in Italian dressing, when I get back from Curves I will broil them.

Making breakfast:


My yummy breakfast:


Oh yea, I have to plan dinner, my friend John and his kids are coming over for dinner so I might just make left over chili with cornbread....they are going to help me take out the carpets in my den and livingroom because tomorrow morning I'm having new carpet installed.

It's 6:30am, gotta get my butt out of here, my neighbor will be picking me up in 10 minutes to go to Curves.

Look: Kage wants a doggie bone before I leave.


I chose this shirt to workout in this morning:


8:00am back from Curves, made breakfast, made lunch, took shower and now I'm moisterizing....that takes a looooooong time.

Blogger isn't allowing me to post anymore pictures, I will try to upload them later.

I've got to get dressed and put my makeup on, lest I scare the co-workers. Made my bed and finished recharging the battery for my power drill. (People, I'm not all girly-girly!)

(If I don't put this in, Capt will bring it to your attention) After I'm all dressed and ready to leave, I get on my knees and clean up my bathroom, even wipe the white tile on the floor. He thinks I'm nuts. I just like a clean bathroom to come home to.

On my way to the bank, I've got to wire transfer $94,500 to a client....mmmmm, maybe I'll accidently put my routing number on the slip..... -just thinkin'

I'm at work now, it's 9:30. Hope your all having a great day.

12:30pm - eating lunch at my desk. It was a good choice to use Boston lettuce in this salad. It's buttery taste blends well with the apples and walnuts...yummmmmmmm.
I broiled a skinless, boneless chicken breast that was marinated in Italian dressing that I made this morning. I put chopped celery, chopped apple and walnuts together, added the cubed chicken and poured some of the dressing on top. Then I brought Boston lettuce in another container and when it was time for lunch, added the other ingredients and tossed.

Work is going well so far, not too much stress. But when the boss comes in after 1pm it will be insane!

3:30 and I'm taking a break. Last week I saw a new client, she was a mess, she looked like she was about ready for a nervous breakdown. She came in today and looked completely together. She is a believer. Last weekend she took a boating course and took the boat her estranged husband and her bought ($189,000 - so it must be more like a yacht) and took it, ALL BY HERSELF, to Connecticut! ALL BY HERSELF! She went for a job interview today and got a job earning $44 per HOUR! You see, her Christian husband left her for another woman 2 months ago, she is devistated, betrayed, broken. I remember that feeling. But I'm astonished at her ability to function like she is. She's going to make it, that I'm sure of. She's an amazing woman. Break over, back to work.

5:20 I still have a client in my office right now and everyone else is gone. John and his kids are coming over at 6:00 for dinner....I'm getting stressed!!!!!

6:00 Got home and started making cornbread. Heated up the chili. John, Kim and Dan came over at 6:30. We ate and started moving all the furniture out of the den and livingroom because my son forgot to do it before he left for work. Then we cut the old carpet in strips, rolled it up and tied them....they are still sitting in the foyer. Maybe when my son gets home he will bring them down the driveway. As for my daughter, she's allergic to carpets. When she came home at 7:00 she helped as much as she could. She gets asthma attacks if she has to be around dust.

It's 9:00pm and I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a shower and crawl into bed.

Thank you for sharing my day it's been fun.

Memories of the Way It Was.....

My friend Donna sent me this today. It brought back some great memories and feelings.

Close your eyes...And go back...
...Before the Internet, PC or the MAC......
...Before semi-automatics and crack....
...Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...
...Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail....
...way back....
...way.....way.....way back.....

* I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk
* Red light, Green light
* Red Rover....Red Rover.....
* Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third streetlight came on
* Ring around the Rosie
* London Bridge
* Hot potato
* Hop Scotch
* Jump rope
* Duck....duck....GOOSE!!!
* YOU'RE IT!!
* Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones
* Mother May I?
* Hula Hoops
* Seeing shapes in the clouds
* Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open
* The sound of crickets
* Running through the sprinkler
* Happy Meals
* Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom
* Cracker jacks with the same thing
* Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend .but wait.....there's more....



* Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons
* Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man,
* Schoolhouse Rock
* Watchin' Sunday morning oldies (Abbott & Costello, Three Stooges)
* Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos
* FONZIE.....AYYYYYYYY
* Playing Dukes of Hazard
* Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar
* Christmas morning
* Your first day of school
* Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses
* Climbing trees
* Swinging as high as you could to try and reach the sky
* Getting an Ice Cream off the Good Humor Truck
* A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers
* Jumpin' down the steps
* Jumpin' on the bed
* Pillow fights
* Sleep-overs
* A 13" black and white TV in your room meant you were RICH
* Runnin' till you were out of breath
* Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt
* Being tired from PLAYING
* WORK: meant taking out the garbage or doing the dishes
* Your first crush
* Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN)
* Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" or hangman" in the classroom, Remember that?



Oh, I'm not finished yet...



* Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer
* So was a swig from the hose
* Giving your friends a ride on your handlebars
* Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school
* Class Field Trips with soggy sandwiches
* When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there.
* When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance; and another quarter a MIRACLE
* When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him to carry groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.



* When your parents took you to McDonalds and you were COOL
* When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home.
* Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.
* Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of em!




Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!"
Well, let's keep going!!



Let's go back to the time when...



* Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
* Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
* "Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
* Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"
* Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening
* It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
* Being old, referred to anyone over 20. (CRAP! I'm officially old!)
* The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
* Nobody was prettier than Mom
* Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom or grandma and made better
* It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people"
rides at the amusement park.
* Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
* Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"
* Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
* The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
* Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.
* Older siblings were your worst tormentors, but also your fiercest protector If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!

Have a Blessed Day,

Silent Saturday

PookieBear playing basketball.....she's so cute!
The helicopter ride up and down the coast of Rhode Island that we went on last weekend.



NewPort, RI, where we stayed.

I LOVE MY LIFE!

Lessons Learned

My daughter and I were having breakfast this morning as we listened to a local radio station. The DJ’s posed a question to us listeners: “If someone offered you 3 million dollars for your baby and you were below poverty level, would you accept it and give up your baby?”

Then Jen asked me if I would take the offer.

“Absolutely not!”, I answered in split-second timing.

“But Mom, we were so poor, wouldn’t it have been nice to know that your children would grow up being spoiled?”, she replied.

The conversation got me thinking....I remember times when I was a single parent of young children and the struggles we had, the many nights of eating spaghetti with ketchup, the times we could only watch one show on TV in order to afford electricity, the near freezing nights without fuel to warm us so we kept the oven on.

And honestly, it was the best time in our lives...my children have told me so.

The reason is because when I did have enough money for something like a bag of bing cherries from the supermarket, the children were over joyed and cherished each cherry.

I remember renting a damp, musty 2 bedroom basement apartment when the children were young. I slept on the livingroom floor, the boys had one room and Jen had the other. There was a family renting the upstairs and the little girl, Jen’s age, got a portable stereo for Christmas. The next day this little girl took it out back and started to smash it with a hammer. My daughter was horrified and came downstairs crying. She told me that she wished that she would have something that nice and if she did, she would cherish it, not smash it with a hammer.

I told my mother this story and she bought Jen a boom box. Jen was so excited. She wouldn’t even let the thing down without putting a soft towel under it lest it get scratched. Jen had this gift for 20 years and always took good care of it.

There was a time when Dave, Jen’s twin, at age 10 would sweep a deli’s floor and in exchange would receive a few dollars. Dave would buy milk for us with that money. Time were tough, but my children learned valuable lessons during those hard times, lessons that gave them self-confidence and the apprechiation for all things big and small. Lessons that you couldn’t purchase for a all the money in the world.

To be honest, yes I thought about putting them in temporary foster care a few times when I would be overwhelmed with the lack of child support and income to support them especially while I put myself through college to become a paralegal, but God always provided and always was faithful.

Jen might have dreams of being filthy rich one day, but as for me, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about those hard years. The lessons my children and I learned are golden.

Thankful Thursday

Remember when I posted about the absolutely wonderful weekend I had? And that it was so wonderful that I could not express it in words?

Well, last weekend I took off an extra day and had a 4 day weekend with Capt. We went to Rhode Island and took a helicopter ride along the coast and saw the mansions in Newport. We shopped, ate a delicious gourmet lunch, stayed at a great hotel, went to Mohecan Sun Casino and gambled $20 away, spent the next day relaxing and doing nothing.

...and now THAT is the best weekend ever.

We were talking about all the things we’ve done and places we’ve gone over the past 1 ½ year since we started dating and were amazed. It’s gone so quickly and we have jam-packed so much fun in that short time.

It’s not only the fun we have, but the fact that we really enjoy spending time together. I’ve never experienced that before. Just going to the grocery store is a blast! Just holding on to his hand as we walk along is fantastic.

I guess this is what love is supposed to be like....who knew?

Our Time Has Come

I’m so sorry to have to break up with you over the internet and all, but honestly, I don’t know if I could have done this face to face.

I remember the first time we met, the way I cried for 45 minutes on the kitchen floor of the first house I’ve ever owned. Tears of joy they were, tears running down my face that I found you after all that time of longing, wishing, hoping and praying for you to come into our lives. There were so many of us that needed you back then. My hands were so tired and worn out....you took charge and made my work load easier....I have appreciate every minute we were together...even the times I’ve had to turn you upside down and squeezed you with my knees....I might miss that a little though. Oh, and spanking your little bottom, that too, but nothing else will I miss.

Yes it has been fun...but those embarrassing noises you made, the lumps and clogs...those I won’t miss one bit. Yes, we had our ups and downs but my new found love, well, he is smooth and shiny and “easy”.

The time has come, I’ve found someone new and I’m madly in love....and I’m never turning back. Sorry, but you'll get over me.

My new love:


You've got to try these.

Add another thing to the list

Add another thing to the list:

Today I went on a helicopter ride around the coast of Rhode Island.

Capt and I took a spontaneous trip to Rhode Island right after church yesterday. The weather was beautiful, the trip was amazing. We both never had been in a helicopter before.

I'm in Connecticut until Wednesday morning. Hope you all had a great holiday weekend too.

Have you ever....

My blog friend, Liz, had this fun thing on her blog (that she got from someone else) and I thought it would be a great idea to do on mine. After doing this, I was amazed at how much I've done with my life so far and how much more I am looking forward to.

The idea is to copy and paste to your own blog and bold the things you have done. (You can copy by highlighting and then pressing CTRL and C at the same time).

HAVE YOU EVER...

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

I Can Only Imagine

Capt sent me this email yesterday and it really hit me hard. I thought I'd share it with all of you too.


Take a look at the video at the end, after you read Rick Reilly's column.


Strongest Dad in the World

(From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]

I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. But compared with Dick Hoyt, I stink.

Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while
swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.

This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. ``He'll be a vegetable
the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months
old. ``Put him in an institution.''

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there
was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told.
``There's nothing going on in his brain.''

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.

Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate.
First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.''

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried.
``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the
1979 Boston Marathon.

``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and
ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another
marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy,
don't you think?

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.


This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time'? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes
off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a
guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,''
one doctor told him,``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches
around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.

``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once.''

Here's the video....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryCTIigaloQ

I Musta Done Something Right

You know you raised a child to become a real true gentleman when:

You come home at midnight after leaving the house at 5am to go visit Capt with your neice and get stuck in a horrendous traffic jam on the way home, your hair is all messed, you've got bags under your eyes, your makeup is non-existant and you look like you are about to commit a crime and your 26 year old son opens the front door for you, looks deeply into your eyes and says, "Mom, you look great, you've lost weight and you're ageless."


Yeah, I must have done something right!

Time to Play: Worst Dates

This past weekend Capt and I had a great date night we went here and here. We had a cute conversation about our dating lives before we found each other and shared some interesting stories.

Although I didn’t go on as many dates as Capt did, some of the few that I went on were strange.

The first date was with a man my daughter fixed me up with from an internet dating site. I met him at a local restaurant. One of the first things he asked me was for pictures of my children....I didn’t have any. I explained why I didn’t and he starting getting angry at me....”how could you not have pictures of your children in your wallet?” I explained that they were older and they don’t get their picture taken every year like younger children do. During dinner he told me wild stories about meeting women the first time and having them leave to go to the ladies room and not coming back. Hmmmmm, RED FLAG!!!! When I pushed my plate away, after only eating half of my dinner, he looked at me with fiery eyes and said, “You’re not going to finish that?” “Ummm, no I’ll take the rest home and eat it for lunch tomorrow.”, I said. “Did you eat before you came here?”, he said through clenched teeth. Yeah, I understand why those women left through the bathroom windows....NEXT!

Then there was this nice man, my age, lived in my town....we talked for hours on the phone about interesting stuff. I couldn’t wait to meet him. We met at a diner on a Sunday after we went to our respective churches. He was dressed kinda weird. A stripped zoot suit, purple tie and bright pink shirt. “Okay”, I thought, “Maybe it was a special church service, like ‘flamboyant Sunday’ or something like that.” After lunch we walked to his car....a Red PT Cruiser with flames on the front panels. I’m a plain-jane type gal myself, not into flamboyancy...I don’t like a lot of attention. Yet, I gave him one more chance. We met for lunch a week later during the work week. He came dressed with a bright yellow shirt, red tie and a similar zoot suit....everyone was turning their heads to see him and then shaking their heads as if to say, “wwwwwaaaaaacko”. We ate lunch and I asked him why he divorced his wife. He told me that his wife was sick for a long time and he couldn’t take it anymore. NEXT!

Then there was the firefighter who I dated for 10 months and found out that he was still searching for other dates while dating me.

But then I met Capt. And the madness ended.

I know that a lot of my readers married their childhood sweethearts and/or have been married for a long time *jealous eyeroll*. But I'd love to hear some of your stories on dates that went very wrong.

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful that my 26 year old son is getting a play that he wrote published.

I’m thankful that his twin, Jen, is a successful artist.

I’m thankful that my 24 year old son is in the field that he loves too.

I’m thankful for the special man in my life that loves me back.

I’m thankful for the South Beach Diet - YOU ROCK!- because in one week I lost 7lbs....although it might be from all the massive daily shopping, prepping, cutting, chopping, food processing, cooking, baking, sauteeing, cleaning up, etc. that goes along with the diet that burns off the calories.

Wordless Wednesday

PookieBear at her luau birthday party last month.

Khutspe Mama

Mom just called me at work a few minutes ago.

My little Jewish, gray haired, post-Bloomingdale's shopper, just recovering from brain surgery due to a fall from her horse, sweet, wouldn't hurt a fly, Mom told me this story:

Mom: "Theresa, I have a great story for your blog".

(Hmmmmm, I didn't know Mom read my blog.)

YNB: "What happened Mom?"

Mom: "Yesterday me and Dad went to the stable so that he can go on a long ride with his friends (riding horses) so I stayed behind with two girls ages 11 and 12. One of the girls screams, 'Rose, come here and bring your gun there's a big snake'. So I run over with my 22 and start shooting at this huge snake with an orange head."

YNB: "Mom, Dad gave you your gun back?" (Okay, I only thought that.)

Mom: "I just kept shooting and shooting, but my gun is too small and it was hard to aim. But some man came by and killed it with a shovel. Now everyone here says I'm finally a true southerner." (They used to just call them "Damn Yankees".

There are a lot of obvious issues here that I can hash over but after everything we've been through with the accident and the surgeries and all the praying, right now all I can think of is, "Yeah, Mom's back".

And I'm feeling a little.......(sniff)...."Verklempt".

How Not to Run a Hair Salon

Approximately 6 weeks ago I went to a new hair colorist, James, to fix the perpetual problem I have been having with my hair. The last time I tried to get it fixed I wound up with jet black hair and I’m naturally golden light brown.

James is a 23 year old straight kid who knows his stuff when it comes to hair coloring. He told me all about himself during the 4 hours it took to get things “right” with my hair. He is engaged to the love of his life, they are expecting a baby in 6 months, they just bought a house and opened the hair coloring business together, but she is having horrible morning sickness and can’t seem to get to work. James was working alone at his shop and was very busy.

While he was telling me his life story I pictured a happy life with a woman of a similar age to his just starting out in life and happily awaiting the arrival of their first baby....don't you? And I was thinking how nice, stable and successful he must be.

Then I went in for a touch up a few days ago.

James sits me down and there is some really heavy late 40ish woman starts yelling at him in a demeaning way from across the salon. This woman has a potty mouth....no actually she would put a truck driver to shame with what was coming out of her mouth.

This woman, I will call Agnes, had long strands of black hair and very short strands of hair poking out all over the place. She was telling everyone, in a loud abrasive voice, that her hair melted when James dyed it the day before and that her hair used to cover her fat butt (her words not mine) and now that @#**&% of a @#**&% better put hair extensions in for her!!!!!

James politely tells her something and then it all becomes crystal clear......Agnes and James own the salon. Agnes, who has 4 bratty children already from all different fathers, whom she lost custody because of her pot smoking, is now pregnant with James' child. (I learned all this info as well while sitting there with hair dye in my hair scared out of my mind, by the way, that James will melt my hair off too).

Just then a woman comes into the salon, a woman who used to date Agnes' brother. Agnes tells her that her brother is now dating a 60 year old woman, "like 10 years his senior". And the three of them start laughing their butts off! Like this older woman who actually is 58, not 60, is wacked out of her mind for dating a younger man....HELLO!!!! what are YOU doing Agnes????? There's over 20 years difference between you and James!!!!!

My drama session gets worse.....Agnes and James have to tell this ex-girlfriend what Agnes' brother told them about her "down there parts". And she starts guessing obscene things.

That's when I chimed in, "Ummm, excuse me, I can't take all this drama anymore, could you wait until I leave in a few minutes to finish this conversation?" I'm not kidding, I really said that. And when my hair was done - and looking mighty fine - I paid and as I left they asked me if this was the most fun salon ever? I said, "I can't wait to blog about this place". Then they all started getting excited and said that they are going to get more publicity for the salon. I just smiled and left. They should only know.

And the most disturbing thing of all is that I am going to go back in 6 weeks because James is THE MAN when it comes to my hair, even if he most likely won't be "the man" in any other area of his life.....just sayin'.

Aaaaaaaawwwwwww

This past weekend PookieBear and I went shopping at the mall. I bought a set of hot rollers for her hair because she had gotten a hair cut with long layers earlier that day and I thought curls would look great. Well....I was right, she looks adorable.

Last night when I was speaking with her dad, I asked how her hair came out since I left before her bedtime on Sunday leaving the curlers still in for her to take out.

Capt said that he has been using the hot rollers on her hair every morning now.

I have a picture in my mind's eye that is just so adorable. And I smile everytime I think about this big, burly, manly-man that I love, curling his sweet 11 year old daughter's hair.

What's on My Mind

Today is the first day of the South Beach Diet I'm trying out. The work involved is very time consuming. I had to shop, cut, chop, marinate, grill, measure, mix, blend and plan yesterday and today. I still have to do some more work for tomorrow's menu. And there's the fact that I cannot and will not use sugar substitutes, so the ricotta and vanilla extract dessert things they are famous for isn't really cutting it for me.

Many people that I've spoken to that have done this diet say that it works. And I need something that works. So I'm on the South Beach Diet and I hope to lose at least 5 lbs quickly because I can't stand the way I feel.

I work out 5 times a week at Curves, and practice yoga stretching quite often, yet the weight is creeping up on me.

There used to be a time in my life when gaining weight was something that I could not do no matter how hard I tried. For example, the day after I gave birth to my twins, 7 lbs and 5lbs 15oz, I weighed 75 lbs. When I was in college at age 30, I couldn't get past 94lbs. I clearly was too thin most of my life.

And clearly, my weight and food is on my mind way too much. Especially since all I can think about is how tomorrow for lunch I am allowed to have a.v.o.c.a.d.o in my tuna salad......and Yew Nork Babe hearts avocados.

What, if anything, has been on your mind too much lately?

Yes, I'm Weird

Better is One Day In Your Courts has tagged me for this 5 Weird Things About Me Meme.

I am a bit reluctant to divulge this weird information to you, mostly because I can't believe that any of you would be interested. And there's the fact that you all might stop being my blog friends when you realize how sick in the head I really am. Anyhoo, here goes:

Five weird things about me:

1. Whenever I see a fortune cookie I must grab it and crush it in my fist. It's an uncontrollable urge. Likewise, I must always step on dry macaroni that has spilled on the grocery floor to hear it crumble beneath my foot. It's uncontrollable, honestly.

2. I get claustrophobic in a snowstorm. Just think about it, you can't see the sky, you're blanketed in blinding snow.....it just gets me all freaked out.

3. I abhor Jack-in-the-boxes. They are not funny. They are not playful. They should not be considered a toy. What were the makers of these spawn of satan thinking when they marketed this as a child's toy?

4. My long term memory was somewhat short circuited during an accidental drug administration in a hospital three years ago. My boyfriend notices it more than me and he kind of likes it. He says it's like having a new girlfriend every week.

5. Even though I used to live in an apartment and had them frequently, and since I've owned my house (16) years I've only had one, rodents freak me the heck out....especially when they enter uninvited. What disturbs me is they have hearts and lungs, kidneys and spleens, things that lions and tigers have. Moreover they are much more intelligent and complex than everyday, run-of-the-mill bugs and spiders. Does anyone but me understand that? They breathe, they see, they hear, they feel....and I didn't invite them in!

Now, I'd like to tag Liz, Rena, Jerry (which will be easy because he's really weird), lala and anyone else that would like to do this meme.

A Whale of a Story

I've got nothing today so here's a cute joke that Capt sent to me this morning:

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though a whale is a very large mammal, its throat is very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. The teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human, it was impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him!"

Have a great Thursday!

House Update

It's been fun having my parents over, they are leaving on Thursday. They have helped out a lot. Lots of laughs, lots of food. Jewish mothers and food....do I have to say more?

As of last Friday, my house is off the market. The way I figure it if it hasn't sold by now, it isn't going to sell until after the holidays. It's a huge 6 bedroom colonial, so only a large family would be interested in it, and since school has already started, parent's aren't going to want to switch schools now. And it is such a huge relief to not have to make sure the house is in showroom condition every single morning. The Pod Storage Unit is being removed this morning. That's going to save me $200 per month. All the junk that was in it has been mostly put in the garbage. I left my parents $20 for the the sanitation workers as a tip for the extra work.

I'm working on getting a home equity loan to do some home improvements and consolidate my debt.

From what I have been reading on other blogs, the market is really bad all over the county. Foreclosures are at a record high. My fellow home seller neighors have been lowering and lowering their house prices and starting to panic. As for me, I'm going to sit back, relax, and thank God for all my blessings. And I know that it will all work out, because it always does.

Spotted Dick Sponge Pudding-It's a British Thang

So the evil plan of serving Heinz Spotted Dick Sponge Pudding at my brother's barbeque went down like this:

Here it is out of the can and microwaved...looks good, a little spongy, there are lots of raisins (must be the reason it's called spotted dick), smells yummy. Who shall we get to eat it first?
Aha, the baby, he eats everything, if he survives, we're next.

So far he's still breathing and smiling and looking cute with cousin Jen.
But wait, what's this, he's putting on his shades and acting all "tough guy". He then starts sing rap music.

Grandma says, "Hey, I'm down wit dat, let me try some" And
Grandma likes it. Then she starts break dancing.
My turn, tastes like carrot cake with graham crackers, very sweet though.
Aunt Mindi likes it too.

Jen says, "I can't believe I'm eating this"
Aunt Lynda and daughter Em try it too.


The texture was good, the taste was good but I found it to be too sweet for my liking. I was extremely surprised that it tasted as good as it did. But then again what could you expect from something with such a strange and intriguing name?

Saturday

We all went to the Ren Faire,Mom, Dad, Mindi (big sister), Jen (my daughter), Mikey (Jen's boyfriend) and me.
Mindi, Dad and Mom:


Jen and Mikey trying to win a prize:


All of us and some kook:


That's me in the middle (they didn't know I stuck my face behind them:
Jen trying to pull the sword from the stone:

.
Mom and Dad kissing on the Kissing Bridge:


We ended the day by getting in touch with our Jewish Heritage and ate dinner at Ben's Kosher Deli. Mom enjoyed her Celery Soda
And I managed to sneek out early this morning to purchase the Spotted Dick Sponge Pudding for my evil plan tomorrow, hee hee hee.

Family Time

My parents flew up here to visit today, they are staying until Thursday. Mom looks great....better than great....she looks marvelous!

We planned a few things so far. We are going to Tuxedo, New York tomorrow (Saturday)to the Renaissance Faire. On Sunday we are going to my brother's house for a barbeque. This is going to be a big deal because my brother has "issues" with us all. And although it is nice that he is having a bbq for our parents, it is very unusual and unlike him to be all "family". And being the "unusual" sister that I am, I've got a little something I'm cooking up in my head for the bbq.

We have been told not to bring anything, that he and my sister-in-law have the whole thing under control. Well that's just not good enough for me, there is one thing I'm gonna bring for dessert that has been on my mind since I saw it at the supermarket.

Last Saturday I was at Stop and Shop and out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of can with a Heinz label. I have never seen that type of Heinz label so I was more than interested in finding out what it actually was. I picked it up and this is what the label read, "Heinz Spotted Dick Sponge Pudding". Hmmmm....what actually is spotted dick sponge pudding....and why would Heinz actually sell it? What is it made of? Who actually eats it? What is spotted dick? If anyone knows me by now, they may realizes that I am a somewhat of a "sick chick", and you would know how much I have been haunted by these questions all week and that I. MUST. GET. A. CAN. OF. SPOTTED. DICK. SPONGE. PUDDING.

I have been so obsessed that I even did some research on the product and the little information there is I have learned that it is a delicacy of Britain, though I am still baffled as to what it actually is made of.

So this is my evil plan: I am going to buy a can of this British delicacy and since I am scared to taste it all by myself and I would like to share the experience with others, I figure I will bring it to my brother's bbq.

And as an added bonus, I will take some photos of my family eating Spotted Dick Sponge Pudding.

To be continued.

Thankful Thursday

As I sit here contemplating all the things I am thankful for, I think of the wonderful boyfriend whom I am forever mentioning in this blog.....Capt.

Yes I am thankful that Capt is my best friend and that we share a deep, loving relationship. A relationship that grows stronger and deeper with each passing day......*gags on index finger*

But it's things like yesterday's email to each other that makes me very thankful he lives 154 miles away, otherwise he'd be hurting right now:


YewNorkBabe:

Babe,
>
>I love that after a year and a half you still leave messages on my voice
>mail telling me you love me for when I get back from working out.
>
>I love you too babe.
>
>T XXOO

Capt: Yuck!

Lazy Labor Day

Nintendo: What an 11 year old girl plays while the rest of us fish:




Boy loves to fish:
My first visit to a covered bridge, this is where we went fishing:
You gotta love them, but I seriously think they were plotting against me here, "hmmmmm, you think an 'accidental' fall from that covered bridge would finally get rid of the Yew Nork Babe?":


I learned how to skip a rock, here's where I got them from:


That's all.

MY FIRST BOOK REVIEW

Did you ever hear, see or read something so sickening and disturbing that you had the overwhelming desire to scrub yourself with an SOS pad and then bathe in a bathtub full of antiseptic 50 times?

That’s just how I felt tonight.

I love to read, I love to especially read best sellers....and even more than that I LOVE to read books that are soon to be movies. Maybe it’s because I like to feel connected to others in some way and by reading the same words that thousands of people did, do or are in the process of doing, it makes me I feel like I’m a part of something world wide.

That is the main reason I purchased the book: “Running with Scissors” .

Tonight I read 100 or so pages and felt sick...the kind of sick that is emotional and spiritual. After reading those pages I knew it was only going to get worse. I couldn’t even bring myself to put it on my bookshelf and let any of my friends who I swap books with read it. I had to immediately bring it out into my backyard and do this to it:




And even after I knew that it was ashes and would never fall into the hands of any other person, I still felt like I needed to visit a mental health professional who would tell me I’m okay and that everything will all be alright.

I am totally serious. That book is sick, creepy, abnormal and unhealthy.

Word of advise: DO NOT - UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - SEE THE MOVIE WHEN IT COMES OUT!

Favors

Last Friday (when I made the spaghetti dinner), my sister came over with one of her new foster children, Symone. Symone is 15 years old. She has been staying with my sister for 2 weeks. Everything out of Symone's mouth was Mariah Carey this and Mariah Carey that. Then she delighted us with a few Mariah Carey songs. She has a beautiful voice. She belted out, "Did You Ever Know You're My Hero" with perfect pitch and range. Needless to say, Symone adores Mariah Carey and wants to be like her when she grows up.

Today I was talking with one of my clients who loves me (at his wedding reception, he dedicated the first song to me....and his bride didn't even mind). His wife happens to work for Mariah Carey as well as a few other celebrities...she travels with them. Said client has agreed to speak with Mariah Carey and ask her to give something special to Symone....(and PookieBear since she loves Mariah too).

I hate asking clients, especially high profile ones, for favors. But a foster kid whose life, at best, is filled with dysfunction? I just had to. And it would make me feel so much better about it if it really happens.

Every child should see their dreams come true, especially children who have the misfortune to be born to parents who just don't want them enough, like Symone. Hopefully Mariah Carey does acknowlege Symone in some small way. I will keep you updated.

4 Meme

Thanks to Liz at LooneyBin4sure, I'm doing this meme today:

4 Jobs I Have Had In My Life:

1 Button Factory worker. (I got in serious, life threatening danger from the illegal aliens for working too fast).

2 Certified Welder.....yes, true. When I graduated welding school I was immediately hired to build A-10 Fighter Jets. Check this out. 330 men in my department and cute little me.

3 Paralegal for the firm that represented Amy Fisher. Oh the stories I could tell, but I'd have to get all liquored up first before I'd speak a word about that whole story.

4. Paralegal for the top Matrimonal Attorney in my county, oh the stories I try to get out of my head every single night.

4 Movies That I Could Watch Over and Over:

1 Blast From the Past
2 West Side Story
3 Somethings Got to Give
4 Grease

4 Places I Have Lived:

1 LI, NY
2 LI, NY
3 LI, NY
4 LI, NY - Uggh, get me out of here already! Again, anyone want to buy my house?

4 Places I Have Been On Vacation:

1 Boston
2 St. Croix
3 Cozumel
4 Key West

4 Websites I Visit Daily:
1 LooneyBin4Sure
2 RockStarMommy
3 Mugwumpmom
4 Jennster


4 Of My Favorite Foods:

1 Avocados with fresh squeezed lime juice and kosher salt
2 Clams on the half shell
3 Fish, any way except fried
4 Jelly Donuts (And I ate one today)

4 Places I Would Like To Be Right Now:

1 In Connecticut
2 In my bathtub soaking in bubbles surrounded by gentle, slowly flickering candlelight.
3 Watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon
4 Hanging out with Capt's kids because I miss them!

4 Friends I Think Will Play Along:
Who ever wants to do this meme