More about me

Got this from Deb at Postcards from the Edge:

A is for age: 47 almost 48
B is for burger of choice: Red Robing 'Shroom Burger with Pepperjack Cheese
C is for the car I drive: 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
D is for your dog's name: Belle (but she's been gone for years now)
E is for essential item you use every day: toothbrush
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Criminal Minds or What Not to Wear (I can't decide!)
G is for favorite game: Apples to Apples
H is for home state: NJ
I is for instruments you play: none although I did learn to play Yesterday by the Beatles with one finger while taking piano lessons for a month
J is for favorite juice: Cranberry
K is for whose bum you'd like to kick: My stepson
L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Macaroni Grill
M is for your favorite Muppet: Cookie Monster
N is for number of piercings: 1 in each ear
O is for overnight hospital stays: appendectomy in January 1968 or 1969 (I was in 3rd grade), and back surgery in July 1991
P is for people you were with today: Jack, and my work mates
Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read
R is for biggest regret: December 19, 1991 or 1992. That's all I'll say.
S is for status: Married
T is for time you woke up today: 5:45am
U is for what you consider unique about yourself: uhmmm, I don't know
V is for vegetable you love: cooked onions
W is for worst habit: I won't put it into writing!
X is for x-rays you've had: Couldn't even begin to count, but here's locations - teeth, back, knee, shoulder, chest, ankle, elbow, and if you add in CT-cans and Ultrasounds, brain, pelvis, girly parts
Y is for yummy food you ate today: nothing yet, but I'm going for breakfast when I finish this!
Z is for zodiac: Sagittarius

Christmas the way I wish it was...

I read this article today and had to share... http://www.newdream.org/holiday/story.php

A Christmas Story

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas---oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it- overspending... the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma---the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike.
The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids-all kids-and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.
The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always. God bless---pass this along to your friends and loved ones.

Jessica Sprague's Stories in Hand

I used to threaten to write 'em all down, but I was much younger then and foolish enough to think I might actually do it, and self-centered enough to think others might care...

But then I grew up and realized no one cared but me.

And then I discovered scrapbooking and realized I could leave some stories behind. Granted, they'd be stories about everyone else, but still...

And THEN I found Soulology and I'm part of this on-line project that's about me. It's about me and putting me in my scrapping and in my journaling.

And THEN I read Cathy Zielske's blog and saw her link to Jessica Sprague's forthcoming project, Stories in Hand...

And I'm going to write 'em all down!!! All my stories, about childhood and college and married life and all the stuff I've not yet included here on my very boring blog... YAY!!!

Testing, testing...

For however many years I've been doing this blog, I've been annoyed that I had no titles.

Okay, sorry, Blogger, I did. I just didn't have them activated.

I do now.

So, an internet friend'o'mine is dealing with some big issues these days - her son has been diagnosed as having ADHD. I'm just taking a moment here to ask my readers to say a little prayer for her and for her son and their family. They have hit the ground running with doctors' appointments and research and medications, and I just want them to know we're all pulling for you! Our prayers and good thoughts are winging their way to Georgia!!!

Now on to much sillier, less important things...

I've finally started to try to put my scraproom together. DH and I went out and bought two Lowes units 'cause for some unknown reason, he's got it in his head that the one big Ikea unit would not work; it would be too big. Of course, the small units he bought at Lowes are less sturdy and he's already complaining about that, but in a couple years, when these are not holding their own, I'll go get my Ikea unit (or I'll make him build me one like I wanted!). In the meantime, I get to start putting things away so honestly, I'm okay with what we've got... First, a before photo - Nope, no "before" photo - I don't have one handy... So here's the start of my putting all my scrapping stuff away:

I will not be keeping that rolling cart on the left under that window; there is a lot of sun that comes in that window and I don't want it to fade my papers... The wall opposite this unit is the Murphy bed. I have appropriated all the shelving on either side, except for two or three shelves that will have sheets and towels in baskets, once I buy the baskets (we don't have a linen closet on this floor so I'm making do!). Here's a fuzzy picture of that side of the room (clearly not cleaned up, either!):

The left side of the unfinished bed has scrapping albums on the top few shelves and patterned paper beneath that; it's all going to be moved to the opposite set of shelves so the sun doesn't fade them (the same sun I mentioned a paragraph ago!). That empty space above the bed will have extra pillows or blankets; it's so wide without a brace of any kind we're not going to put much weight on that particular shelf... Those 2 computer CPUs will move to the sitting room, on the computer stand I inherited from my former job. It's actually a good place for it since it's out of the way in the corner...

We're not going to the lake this weekend; DSD's tire blew out so DH is going to be spending Saturday repairing it and/or getting a new one. The rim is cracked so she really can't drive on it; she's SOOO annoyed! Anyway, I'll take advantage of a weekend home to get a pedicure, then finish bringing winter clothes down and summer clothes up and packing up my donations for AmVets and I'll take my mom food-shopping... Yea, I know, B-O-R-I-N-G!

From Just a Girl

The "Husband Meme."

1. He's sitting in front of the tv, what is on the screen? History Channel or Speed
2. You're out to eat what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? He doesn't eat salad, unless it's the odd Thursday every 8 months that we go to Pizza Hut, in which case it's oil and vinegar
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Anything green or white (no guacamole, no cottage cheese, etc.) - the only exception is he's force down broccoli 'cause his Mom told him to and he'll eat ricotta if it's already in his tomato sauce, or mayo if it's in his tuna salad
4. You go out to the bar, what does he order? Coke
5. Where did he go to high school? Bloomfield, NJ
6. What size shoe does he wear? 10-1/2
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Tools
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Italian sub, if he had to choose one
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? Pasta
10. What is his favorite cereal? Malt'O'Meal Golden Puffs
11. What would he never wear? A sweater
12. What is his favorite sports team? He's the only gym teacher/man I know who could care less
13. Who will he vote for? McCain
14. Who is his best friend? Tommy & Lenny
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Keep the house messy
16. How many states has he lived in? One - NJ
17. What is his heritage? Italian + Italian = Italian
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Since I'm baking, my favorite: yellow cake with milk chocolate icing; if I'm buying, strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream
19. Did he play sports in high school? Yes, track and field
20. What could he spend hours doing? Working, working, and working - oh, did I mention working?

I act 27 years old - NOT! (But I do think I am still that same age until I look closely in a mirror, in the sunlight, which I did last week and almost fainted!!!)

And here, because I have nothing else to do here at work... Another of those quizzes to occupy your time and share stuff no one is interested in...

I act 27 years old - uh-huh, sure...

[x] You know how to make a pot of coffee (edited to include badly!)
[ ] You keep track of dates using a calendar
[x] You own a credit/debit card
[x] You can handle your own money
[x] You know how to change the oil in a car
[x] You've done your own laundry
[x] You can vote in an election
[x] You can cook for yourself (ditto first comment!)
[x] You think politics are exciting
TOTAL SO FAR: 8
[ ] You show up for school late a lot
[x] You always carry a pen in your bag/purse/pocket
[x] You have never gotten a detention
[ ] You have forgotten your own birthday at least once
[ ] You like to take jogs by yourself
[x] You know what credibility means, without looking it up
[x] You drink caffeine at least once a week
TOTAL SO FAR: 12
[x] You know how to do the dishes
[x] You can count to 10 in another language
[x] When you say you're going to do something you do it
[x] You can mow the lawn
[ ] You study when you HAVE to
[x] you've hand washed a car before
TOTAL SO FAR: 17
[x]You can spell experience, without looking it up
[ ] The people at Gloria Jeans know you by name
[x] Your favorite kind of food is take out
[ ] The first thing you do when you wake up is get caffeine
[x] you can go to the store without getting something you don't need (I "can" but I usually don't!)
[x] You understand political jokes the first time they are said
[x] You can type pretty quick
TOTAL SO FAR: 22
[ ] Your only friends are from your place of employment
[x] You have been to a Tupperware party
[x]You have been to purse/jewelry party's
[x]You have realized that no one will take you seriously unless you are over the age of 25 and have a job
[ ] You have more bills than you can pay
[x] You use the internet every day/ or try to
[x] You make your own bed
TOTAL : 27

NOW REPOST AS: I act __ years old

Sorry that this is not a good picture, but since I took the cocky move of posting that button in the right margin about being inspired and artistic (I'm really not, but trying to convince myself that I am!), here's a layout I created about Jack and me. That really attractive picture of the two of us was taken at midnight, New Year's Eve, 2000, on the cusp of the new millenium. Don't we look so excited?!? (In truth, we'd fallen asleep in front of the TV and woke up at literally 11:59:46!)

We are such old fuddy-duddies!

This layout is hanging in the corner in our dining room at the lake... It probably won't stay there when the room is actually a real dining room, but for now, it's okay...

A Week in the Life of... Me!!!

First of all, they're not in date order, as they will be when I create the mini album. I have a hard time with pictures in this blog - as you'll see when you have to lay your head on the desk to look at the ones that are sideways! (Couldn't figure out how to rotate them once they were here!)

Me at work

Hoboken, en route to the school

J at B&N

The Intrepid, returning to Pier 86/NYC - the view from my office window!

J at our friends' house for cake and coffee

Lake Hopatcong, the view from our deck

Took Mom to the dr's office for a biopsy - all clear!!!

Scrapping at the lake

Our Murphy bed - almost done! Just has to be cleared and the feet/legs have to be installed.

We had a full evacuation drill at work

B&N

the view of the new W hotel in Hoboken, from the pier, during the evacuation

a mid-afternoon snack: a clementine or two

paid some bills...

Me at work

Cruise ships go up and down the Hudson all the time, calling my name...

J's school - we went to the Board Meeting and AGAIN, they didn't approve the teachers' contract!

I found Cherry Coke with ZERO calories! And it tastes okay (not quite as good as with the sugar in it, but okay nonetheless!)

Made some fried eggplant and squash (ate the squash for lunch!)

Some magazines I browsed through at B&N

a typical breakfast for me: wheat wrap with eggs and pepperjack cheese, and some Tabasco sauce to dip (and some hot tea, not pictured!)

Carrie's new kitties: Dolce on the left and Oreo on the right!

My desk, in the middle of a typical day

my view from the office, late afternoon - the light was fantastic that day!

tastes disgusting, but works - thank goodness for codeine! (had a bit of a fight with the pharmacist since the dr gave me a refill in under 24 days - the pharmacist didn't want to fill it. I told her I'd come back when the 24 days were up if she'd just tell me when that was. She got mad - thought I was an addict, I guess! - It obviously wasn't my favorite, Donna!)

There were more pictures, but apparently I can only put so many on the page... Blogger erased them, replaced them, whatever!!!

Boring life, doncha agree?!?!

I'm not a great photographer, but I really like this picture of my mom.

I'm sort of okay with this picture of me.

When I think of Mom, this picture is what I see in my mind's eye, maybe with a different blouse on, but always with that smile!

Beautiful. Smiling. Happy. [Believe you me, there were days when she was not smiling and not happy, but she was always beautiful.]

I really hope that when I get (more) older , I look half as good as my mom does.

It's been a couple of days, so I thought a quick post might be in order and this one looks like it could be a quick one...

Was visiting a few blogs that I found on another one, and one of those tag games was posted and I liked this one, and I liked it even more that the author didn't really "tag" her friends; she just suggested anyone who wants to do it can do it... So, "Tag, you're it! If you want to do this, just add it to your blog, or if you don't have a blog, email me!"

8 TV Shows I Like to Watch:

• Criminal Minds
• America's Funniest Home Videos
• What Not to Wear
• House Hunters
• Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
• CSI Miami
• Numbers
• Grey's Anatomy

8 Restaurants I Like to Eat At:

• Olive Garden
• Red Robin
• Burger King
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Outback
• Court Street
• Bruchetta
• Tick Tock Diner

8 Things That Happened Today:

• My ex-brother-in-law emailed his kids to tell them he's engaged to a wealthy woman, who happens to be beautiful with 2 kids and he will speak with my niece and nephew by email only; they shouldn't bother calling him.
• I had a nice lunch with my girlfriend who works here in my building and we were able to catch up on all that's been going on these past couple of weeks.
• I work up with scratchy, puffy eyes 'cause I cried them out at the movies last night; we saw Nights at Rodanthe.
• I got an $18,000 order from one of my customers!
• We listened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the way to work today.
• We gave a dozen roses to our co-worker for her birthday.
• I had a liverwurst and cheese sandwich for lunch - the first time I've had liverwurst in years! And it was delicious!!
• I had a couple of nice conversations with my baby sister today, and she was in a good mood the whole time!

8 Things I Am Looking Forward to:

• The end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (even though I've read it a couple of times and listened to it a couple of times!)
• Making some time to go for a pedicure - I really need one!
• Working on my mini "Right Now" album when I get my prize from Stacy Julian
• Working on my "Week in the Life of Me" project (see Ali Edwards' site)
• Working on The Soulology Project with one of my scrapping friends from the Morris County Scrapbooking MeetUp Group
• Getting my end-of-the-fiscal-year incentive check: it should be somewhere in the several thousands of dollars and is due 10/15!
• Our November trip to Atlantic City
• Working on my scrapping room - hopefully we can begin next weekend since we'll be finishing the Murphy Bed this weekend!

8 Things on My Wish List:

• an Ikea Expedit wall unit
• a Stamp-a-ma-jig (and P, I'm putting together a scrapping wish list for you!)
• a repaired setting for my engagement ring: I just noticed it's almost oval it's been worn down so much
• my 10th wedding anniversary year (07/25/09): we're going on a couple of trips, I hope, to Disney World and on a cruise (maybe we can make that a Disney cruise and combine two into one!) and I'd LOVE to go to Alaska for my 10th!
• an eternity band
• a laptop
• a new digital camera
• retirement

Those of you who know me know I love pocketbooks. I could buy one every day. Love them!

Guess what! I could win one, for free!

And so could you!

Go here: Handbag Planet is giving away one bag every hour for 24 hours on October 15th, their launch day!

Hurry up! Go! Right now!

Maybe you'll win! (But if you win mine, I'm gonna be annoyed!)

I started the Ali Edwards project 09/29, a few days later, so that I'm in sync with the rest of the world... I'll have to download the pictures another time, but here are some wordy updates about the past few days...
Monday, 09/29
- my usual breakfast: egg/pepperjack cheese on a wheat wrap, with Tabasco sauce, and hot tea
- waiting, waiting, waiting for page loads on my work computer
- lunch
- catching up on blogs and email
- met with my reading partner for volunteer work at school
- played Bejeweled 2 on the computer while waiting to go home
- took some photos of great clouds and light on NYC skyline
- to Carrie's for dessert, to meet Oreo and Dolce, her two new kittens
- called the dr. about a chest x-ray and more cough medicine
Tuesday, 09/30
- switched it up for breakfast: multigrain toast with peanut butter and raisins, and hot tea
- Norwegian cruise ship cruised on by the office, calling out my name!
- catching up on blogs and email
- some difficult customers today: discount issues, delivery issues, etc.
- Board of Ed meeting with Jack - he's so happy I went with him - the contract didn't pass
- roast beef sub from Subway for dinner
Wednesday, 10/01
- sick day
- took mom to urologist - 80% sure it's not cancer - I want 100% - 2nd biopsy to make sure
- went to Imaging Center and had chest x-ray taken
- Atlanta Bread Factory for breakfast with mom
- short visit to AC Moore
- fried some eggplant and squash
- spinach ravioli
- B&N with Jack
Thursday, 10/02
- the usual breakfast, and hot tea
- the Intrepid returns to Pier 86 on the West Side
- VP debate: Biden vs. Palin (a bit worried about this!)
- tuna fish sandwich and french fries for lunch

See? Boring! But a few typical days in the life of Krys...