I'm going to keep track of a week in my life, along with Ali Edwards. I have the best of intentions, and I've taken 2 pictures so far of today, Friday, September 26. Of course, it's already 3:45pm so you do realize, I hope, that I'll be scrounging around for the next 6 hours or so trying to find something to take a picture of that might illustrate "A Typical Friday in the Life of...Me!"
The first picture I took this morning was of my desk, complete with crap all over it, crap that should have been done earlier this week but was waiting patiently for Friday, after being passed over (and over) since Monday... The second picture was an attempt at (almost) art: my computer screen, set on Ali's page, along with my manila folder labeled "A Week in the Life of Me." How exciting, I know!
Yesterday I went to a meeting at W School, an orientation meeting for the volunteer work I'll be doing again this year, reading to first graders once every two weeks. My new partner showed up, a great start compared to last year's partner who showed up maybe 60% of the year, if I'm lucky (or if the kids were lucky!). I emailed her this morning to set up a meeting to coordinate our calendars, to see who'll start first, who can't read on which Tuesday, etc. I called her at 2:24, per her instructions, to tell her I was heading on down to the Coffee Bar for our meeting. I gave her the required 15 professorial minutes after 2:30 and she never showed.
Now, stuff happens, I know. But she hasn't called yet, or emailed, to say, "OMG! I forgot!" or "OMG! I was stuck in this meeting!" Nothing. Nada. Zip. Not a peep. I take it all back: we're not off to a good start... And it's 3:54pm...
My allergies are morphing into a cold. I'm congested, and everyone sounds like either they're under water, or I am! And I'm still coughing, suffering from a sinus headache brought on by the low barometric pressure, and I'm blowing my nose again, like a fiend! I hope I get better over the weekend, not worse - I really think there's something to that whole kids make you sick thing that teachers complain about... There's only one other explanation: my building is sick.
I started here in August 2004, and that was the first year I had a summer cold, right.when.I.started.this.new.job. And then a winter cold, in January. And one ever summer and winter since. So either it's 'cause I go to the elementary school to meet DH and I'm exposed to all those kiddie germs, or as my cubicle neighbor insists, our building is sick; the windows can't be opened, and "everyone's been sicker since they moved the business here to Ho----n."
I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm getting older and my resistance is weaker...
Guess what I get to do this weekend? I get to balance J's checkbook! Go ahead, I hear you laughing! But you have no idea how much I love to do that!!! Watching all those numbers add up right... I should have been an accountant... (NOT! But I DO like balancing my checkbook!)
Okay, it's time to go and pretend to work for the last 1/2 hour, before I sign off and do something productive, like play Bejeweled 2...
About Me
- Krys72599
- I'm happy, married, and looking forward to sharing my world with you! If you're interested, that is!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Some pictures for your viewing pleasure...
A GREAT picture of my beautiful mom!
Two great photos of my beautiful baby neighbor! Do you think Jack would mind too much if I left him for this little guy?!? He just LOVES being outside. When he's crying, all his mom has to do is bring him outside and he stops, just like that! Of course, when she brings him out and he sees his Krys, he gets that big smile on his face, and I just melt and say, "Give me my baby!"
A view from our deck two weeks ago, before they started dropping the lake. It's down quite a bit, and there's more to go. This is the year of the "big drop" when they let 5' of water out of the lake to allow residents to do repairs on their docks. Of course, some residents can't make necessary repairs 'cause the "1-darn-dock-repair-company-who-has-the-monopoly-on-the-lake-simply-doesn't-return-phone-calls-'cause-they've-got-work-lined-up-for-years." (Perhaps I'll try again...)
Believe it or not, on a potato roll or between 2 slices of Wonder Bread - one of my favorite all-time sandwiches, followed by cream-cheese-and-jelly-and-onions. (I know, I know, YUK! But until you taste it, don't knock it! I thought I'd throw up until my dad made me taste it - some sweet with a little bit of a tart crunch! Mmmm!)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I'm in a very nostalgic mood. I don't know why. So I decided to post a couple of old pictures here... Don't know if I've posted them here before, but anyway, here goes...
This first one is of my dad and his sister, just before he left for the war (or just after he returned - I don't have the family notes here at work). My aunt was a beauty when she was young! I don't remember her looking this young. My dad, though, always looked like this to me, maybe with a few more laugh lines, but I always thought he was a handsome guy!
This next one is my grandfather's house in Bloomingdale (43 Van Dam Avenue). We spent every Sunday there when we were growing up. We'd walk into the kitchen, kiss my aunt hello, go in the living room and kiss Granddaddy hello, and we'd get a piece of candy from his stash under the newspaper. A stash none of the adults knew about!!! Facing the house from the street, like in this picture, we also owned the lot to the left of the house, on the other side of the garage. There was a giant oak tree, a lily pond, a mini corn field, and a swing set. We'd be out there all afternoon while we were there for the day!!!
The last one is my mom and my two sisters and me, in front of our house in Bloomfield (30 Byrd Avenue). I'm the tallest of the daughters, in that sexy orange blouse! I absolutely LOVED that skirt! (Nice haircut, don't you think?!?) Mom made her gown! She was a great seamstress - she made all those skirts. Our house was white, turquoise, then white again. This is obviously in our initial white phase!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thanks, Pikes Pickles, for my prize! It arrived today, on a day when I really needed a pick-me-up of some kind!!! It was a difficult day, filled with lots of work, lots of driving, lots of coughing, and not nearly enough eating! And my prize arrived!!! YAY!
Yes, friends of mine, I'm sick. Not sick sick, but allergy sick.
I called out on Friday, went to the doctor and was promptly put on a cough medicine with codeine to suppress my hacking cough, an inhaler (or "inhalerator" or "breathalizer," as Mr. Obama likes to call them!), and Zyrtec. Dr. C. confirmed that it's allergies settling in my chest; my lungs were clear and she wants to keep them that way, hence all the medication.
I must say, I feel a thousand times better, even while still coughing up a lung once in a while - gross though this might be, it's now a more productive cough, not just a wheezing, dry, make me gag sort of cough. And my sore abs/flabs? Not sore any more!
And I'm sure my cubicle neighbors are happy, happy, happy that I went to the doctor - what made me finally decide to go was the email from a girl who sits literally about 100 feet away, asking me if I wanted a cough drop. How embarrassing! I wonder how far you had to get to NOT hear me coughing...
Yes, friends of mine, I'm sick. Not sick sick, but allergy sick.
I called out on Friday, went to the doctor and was promptly put on a cough medicine with codeine to suppress my hacking cough, an inhaler (or "inhalerator" or "breathalizer," as Mr. Obama likes to call them!), and Zyrtec. Dr. C. confirmed that it's allergies settling in my chest; my lungs were clear and she wants to keep them that way, hence all the medication.
I must say, I feel a thousand times better, even while still coughing up a lung once in a while - gross though this might be, it's now a more productive cough, not just a wheezing, dry, make me gag sort of cough. And my sore abs/flabs? Not sore any more!
And I'm sure my cubicle neighbors are happy, happy, happy that I went to the doctor - what made me finally decide to go was the email from a girl who sits literally about 100 feet away, asking me if I wanted a cough drop. How embarrassing! I wonder how far you had to get to NOT hear me coughing...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Okay, I'm such a copycat!
I saw this Followers gadget on Pikes Pickles and I had to have one! I know there are only about 3 of you who are readers on a regular basis (and thanks to each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart!!!), but it'll make me feel better to see you all there each and every time I sign on... Someone cares! Someone really cares!!
[Of course, if you ever see me remove this gadget, it means I got depressed about the fact that I'm not as amusing or interesting as the three of you implied I was by coming back again and again...]
I saw this Followers gadget on Pikes Pickles and I had to have one! I know there are only about 3 of you who are readers on a regular basis (and thanks to each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart!!!), but it'll make me feel better to see you all there each and every time I sign on... Someone cares! Someone really cares!!
[Of course, if you ever see me remove this gadget, it means I got depressed about the fact that I'm not as amusing or interesting as the three of you implied I was by coming back again and again...]
Love and peace to all who suffered on 09/11/01.
I remember this day vividly. My mother called me at work to tell me the World Trade Center was on fire. I turned on my radio and was listening to reports from the scene. When we realized what had happened, we all went to the President's office and watched on his TV. We saw the 2nd Tower get hit. I have never felt what I felt at that moment.
Our boss told us all to go home and be with our families.
I called my husband at school in Hoboken and couldn't get through to him. That's when I realized how terribly close he was to Manhattan - a mere river's width and a few blocks from where the world was literally crashing down around us.
I drove home, eastbound on Route 3, where I could see the smoke in the skies where the Towers had stood. Towers that had been there for years. Towers I saw almost every day. Towers I saw but never really paid attention to for years.
They were no longer there.
Now what I saw on that drive home was loss. Horrible, crippling, devastating loss. And this was before we really knew or understood what had happened.
I could only think about all those people. Those people who got up, kissed their wives or husbands goodbye, patted the dog on the head, took the garbage out, then drove or bussed or flew to work. All those people.
And the families. My God, the families.
I'd lost my father, and my aunt, and my grandparents. I knew was loss was. I knew how hard it was to come to terms with knowing that you'd never see that person again, that they were gone forever. And yes, time had come and gone and I'd reached that point in my grieving where I also understood that they were there, in my heart, always.
But they were still gone. Forever.
The bigger "but" is that they died. They weren't murdered. They weren't taken from me, from my family, by cruel, evil, heartless men who wanted to hurt us. They died when they were supposed to die. All those people in the Towers, on Flight 93, at the Pentagon and on that plane, too - they were not supposed to die.
Sure, my faith helps me to understand we all have to go sometime, and it helps me through that time. BUT even though fate decreed that all those 2977 people had to die that day, the fact that they were TAKEN from us is hard to swallow. They were taken from their loved ones deliberately, with malice and forethought, with the intention of hurting us and maiming us - us the U.S.
They are heroes. Each and every one of them. And I, for one, along with every other American, every other person in the world today who has a heart, miss them today and grieve along with their families and friends.
I was lucky, you might say, that I live 9 miles from the city and knew no one who died in this tragic event. Yes, a few acquaitances came close, a couple cousins even closer (one was in the city late for a meeting at the Towers, another on the drive into Manhattan when he got stuck in the traffic after it happened). But I didn't lose anyone close to me.
I lost all 2977.
I remember this day vividly. My mother called me at work to tell me the World Trade Center was on fire. I turned on my radio and was listening to reports from the scene. When we realized what had happened, we all went to the President's office and watched on his TV. We saw the 2nd Tower get hit. I have never felt what I felt at that moment.
Our boss told us all to go home and be with our families.
I called my husband at school in Hoboken and couldn't get through to him. That's when I realized how terribly close he was to Manhattan - a mere river's width and a few blocks from where the world was literally crashing down around us.
I drove home, eastbound on Route 3, where I could see the smoke in the skies where the Towers had stood. Towers that had been there for years. Towers I saw almost every day. Towers I saw but never really paid attention to for years.
They were no longer there.
Now what I saw on that drive home was loss. Horrible, crippling, devastating loss. And this was before we really knew or understood what had happened.
I could only think about all those people. Those people who got up, kissed their wives or husbands goodbye, patted the dog on the head, took the garbage out, then drove or bussed or flew to work. All those people.
And the families. My God, the families.
I'd lost my father, and my aunt, and my grandparents. I knew was loss was. I knew how hard it was to come to terms with knowing that you'd never see that person again, that they were gone forever. And yes, time had come and gone and I'd reached that point in my grieving where I also understood that they were there, in my heart, always.
But they were still gone. Forever.
The bigger "but" is that they died. They weren't murdered. They weren't taken from me, from my family, by cruel, evil, heartless men who wanted to hurt us. They died when they were supposed to die. All those people in the Towers, on Flight 93, at the Pentagon and on that plane, too - they were not supposed to die.
Sure, my faith helps me to understand we all have to go sometime, and it helps me through that time. BUT even though fate decreed that all those 2977 people had to die that day, the fact that they were TAKEN from us is hard to swallow. They were taken from their loved ones deliberately, with malice and forethought, with the intention of hurting us and maiming us - us the U.S.
They are heroes. Each and every one of them. And I, for one, along with every other American, every other person in the world today who has a heart, miss them today and grieve along with their families and friends.
I was lucky, you might say, that I live 9 miles from the city and knew no one who died in this tragic event. Yes, a few acquaitances came close, a couple cousins even closer (one was in the city late for a meeting at the Towers, another on the drive into Manhattan when he got stuck in the traffic after it happened). But I didn't lose anyone close to me.
I lost all 2977.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Hooray, hooray, I won a prize at Pikes Pickles!!! I've been so lucky to meet so many nice people out there in blog-land... I'm going to have to think of a special way to say thanks ---
Oh, wait! Here it is!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, Pikes Pickles, for my prize (I won a prize!) and Miss Hope, who introduced me to Pikes Pickle's blog.
I have been popping by and visiting, but after taking the time to read a few back blogs, especially the one named Comments please, I will be sure to comment on a regular basis, not just get counted as an anonymous hit!!!
Oh, wait! Here it is!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, Pikes Pickles, for my prize (I won a prize!) and Miss Hope, who introduced me to Pikes Pickle's blog.
I have been popping by and visiting, but after taking the time to read a few back blogs, especially the one named Comments please, I will be sure to comment on a regular basis, not just get counted as an anonymous hit!!!
Friday, September 05, 2008
Go on over to Pikes Pickles and try to win yourself a prize - there's only one day left! (All prizes are being picked on Saturday, though, so even though it's the last day, go over there and comment on all 5 days!)
Celebrate your marriage on her blog. Celebrate a special friend. Celebrate your faith. And I can personally vouch for the PakNaks, having won some over on Miss Hope's site (so I'm not participating in this giveaway!). I gave them to my neighbors' kids - they LOVED them!
Pikes Pickes is giving away some awesome prizes - and it's a wonderful blog, too - Enjoy!
Celebrate your marriage on her blog. Celebrate a special friend. Celebrate your faith. And I can personally vouch for the PakNaks, having won some over on Miss Hope's site (so I'm not participating in this giveaway!). I gave them to my neighbors' kids - they LOVED them!
Pikes Pickes is giving away some awesome prizes - and it's a wonderful blog, too - Enjoy!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
I really tend not to write about things political, simply 'cause I have my own opinions, I'm entitled to them and I am happy with them, and I sleep at night with a clear conscience, secure in what I believe in... even when I'm in the minority and surrounded by many who would prefer to try to change my mind...
That said, I LOVED Sarah Palin last night!!! There was no way she could come out there and simply talk politics: the media robbed her of that with all the personal news that was flooding the air waves these past few days. I think she dealt with it all with grace and style. Loved "meeting" her family, LOVED her baby daughter licking her palm and fixing her baby brother's hair, loved her baby daughter waving at the crowd! Thought Palin's references to family struggles were appropriate: we all knew what she was talking about! Am thrilled to have a mom and politician who understands the struggles special needs families are going through on the way to the White House.
I will be honest, though: I'm not so sure about the pregnant daughter marrying the baby's father. Marriage isn't easy, and at such a young age? To have to be 17, pregnant, in the public eye, AND married? I don't know... I know they have no idea what they're in for, and you know it, too. I think I'd be okay with her remaining a young, single mom, and I'd want the dad involved. Of course I'd teach my children abstinence, and marriage before sex, and I'd hope they would listen, but it is 2008 and unfortunately parents have less control over their children than ever before... I believe SP and her husband will be there for their daughter and that will be a huge help for her, but pregnancy, a baby, and a husband and marriage to deal with? At 17? It's not going to be easy! And toss in doing it in front of millions and billions of people, 1/2 f whom want you to fail? Oooh, am I glad I'm not her!!!
SP touched on the economy, on foreign policy, on family values, on terrorism - all in a way that acknowledged she knew she'd be dealing with them, but she didn't even try to pretend to "fix" it all in her speech. And I think that was the right way to go! Make us like you, Sarah, and you're over the hump! Now we want to support you, and we'll listen to you with a more open mind...
PLEASE keep up the momentum!
AND I loved what Sarah said. I liked her support of McCain. I liked her warning that she wasn't going to Washington looking for media approval. I liked her response to the other side's criticism of her experience.
I will be voting for McCain. And I'm not completely happy with his policies, but I haven't been completely happy with anyone since I started voting! No one is perfect, and although I hate the idea that there are people voting for the lesser of evils (in their eyes), I hate even more the idea that people would vote for someone just because he is black, or she is a woman... I am a woman. And I'm NOT qualified to be VP or P, for that matter! I've looked at them all, and I don't like BO (hmmm, nice initials...). I lived in DE and never liked Biden; admittedly I was in college and not all that political at the time... I have zero respect for Hillary: none as a woman, a politician, a wife. Thank God she's not BO's running mate! (He'd have had to sleep with one eye open, that's for sure!)
Anyway, on to work... since I'm lucky enough to have a job, I have to keep it!!!
That said, I LOVED Sarah Palin last night!!! There was no way she could come out there and simply talk politics: the media robbed her of that with all the personal news that was flooding the air waves these past few days. I think she dealt with it all with grace and style. Loved "meeting" her family, LOVED her baby daughter licking her palm and fixing her baby brother's hair, loved her baby daughter waving at the crowd! Thought Palin's references to family struggles were appropriate: we all knew what she was talking about! Am thrilled to have a mom and politician who understands the struggles special needs families are going through on the way to the White House.
I will be honest, though: I'm not so sure about the pregnant daughter marrying the baby's father. Marriage isn't easy, and at such a young age? To have to be 17, pregnant, in the public eye, AND married? I don't know... I know they have no idea what they're in for, and you know it, too. I think I'd be okay with her remaining a young, single mom, and I'd want the dad involved. Of course I'd teach my children abstinence, and marriage before sex, and I'd hope they would listen, but it is 2008 and unfortunately parents have less control over their children than ever before... I believe SP and her husband will be there for their daughter and that will be a huge help for her, but pregnancy, a baby, and a husband and marriage to deal with? At 17? It's not going to be easy! And toss in doing it in front of millions and billions of people, 1/2 f whom want you to fail? Oooh, am I glad I'm not her!!!
SP touched on the economy, on foreign policy, on family values, on terrorism - all in a way that acknowledged she knew she'd be dealing with them, but she didn't even try to pretend to "fix" it all in her speech. And I think that was the right way to go! Make us like you, Sarah, and you're over the hump! Now we want to support you, and we'll listen to you with a more open mind...
PLEASE keep up the momentum!
AND I loved what Sarah said. I liked her support of McCain. I liked her warning that she wasn't going to Washington looking for media approval. I liked her response to the other side's criticism of her experience.
I will be voting for McCain. And I'm not completely happy with his policies, but I haven't been completely happy with anyone since I started voting! No one is perfect, and although I hate the idea that there are people voting for the lesser of evils (in their eyes), I hate even more the idea that people would vote for someone just because he is black, or she is a woman... I am a woman. And I'm NOT qualified to be VP or P, for that matter! I've looked at them all, and I don't like BO (hmmm, nice initials...). I lived in DE and never liked Biden; admittedly I was in college and not all that political at the time... I have zero respect for Hillary: none as a woman, a politician, a wife. Thank God she's not BO's running mate! (He'd have had to sleep with one eye open, that's for sure!)
Anyway, on to work... since I'm lucky enough to have a job, I have to keep it!!!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Update on the sister thing...
Whilst the backside of that big elephant in the relationship is still in view, I'm hoping things are on the mend with my baby sister and me.
Got a text message from her yesterday inviting us to a combination b'day party for my nephew and her boyfriend's son; R's b'day is the same day as J's! I called her immediately to tell her I'd be there, but that I just couldn't speak for my husband. We're having his family to the lake house the next day for a party and he thought he might not be ready enough to take some time off on Saturday. (We've since discussed it and I think he's coming to my sister's party; we got a LOT done this weekend in preparation for the party and we have Thursday, Friday and 1/2 of Saturday to do the rest.)
This does mean, however, that I have to get a gift for T's son; wasn't planning to do that since I didn't think I'd see him... Perhaps Mom and DH and I can get him a gift card together...
While my sister's voice wasn't dripping with warmth and love, she wasn't all cold and distant, just a bit reserved. So I tried to just interact with her as though we're okay, and I think we'll be able to put this behind us. (Although I do wonder how much she told her boyfriend...)
My nephew called me AGAIN about coming to the car show next week, and then AGAIN to ask if my DH would take a look at his car today, something about an oil leak. Unfortunately it was bad news; pretty expensive repairs and my husband can't do them (although he would if he could - it would need the engine to be removed from the car; something about a main gasket...). I guess I should warn my sister that we had this talk, but somehow when I try to share with her, she jumps down my throat and leaps to conclusions, so maybe I'll just leave it and see if J mentions anything to her. If not, everyone's happy!
Anyway, I'm at work so I've got to run! See ya!
Whilst the backside of that big elephant in the relationship is still in view, I'm hoping things are on the mend with my baby sister and me.
Got a text message from her yesterday inviting us to a combination b'day party for my nephew and her boyfriend's son; R's b'day is the same day as J's! I called her immediately to tell her I'd be there, but that I just couldn't speak for my husband. We're having his family to the lake house the next day for a party and he thought he might not be ready enough to take some time off on Saturday. (We've since discussed it and I think he's coming to my sister's party; we got a LOT done this weekend in preparation for the party and we have Thursday, Friday and 1/2 of Saturday to do the rest.)
This does mean, however, that I have to get a gift for T's son; wasn't planning to do that since I didn't think I'd see him... Perhaps Mom and DH and I can get him a gift card together...
While my sister's voice wasn't dripping with warmth and love, she wasn't all cold and distant, just a bit reserved. So I tried to just interact with her as though we're okay, and I think we'll be able to put this behind us. (Although I do wonder how much she told her boyfriend...)
My nephew called me AGAIN about coming to the car show next week, and then AGAIN to ask if my DH would take a look at his car today, something about an oil leak. Unfortunately it was bad news; pretty expensive repairs and my husband can't do them (although he would if he could - it would need the engine to be removed from the car; something about a main gasket...). I guess I should warn my sister that we had this talk, but somehow when I try to share with her, she jumps down my throat and leaps to conclusions, so maybe I'll just leave it and see if J mentions anything to her. If not, everyone's happy!
Anyway, I'm at work so I've got to run! See ya!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
[Warning: This is a LONG post.]
I've been missing for days now. I really don't know why.
Oh, I could recite all the reasons my time is not my own: we've been away on vacation at the lake (without a computer), I've been SOOO busy at work (thankfully that resulted in me being close to caught-up!), I haven't really had anything much to say...
But the real reason is that I had a HUGE fight with my sister last week.
Several weeks ago I decided I wanted to take my nephew out to dinner, just the two of us, to talk about him going to college. He's a strapping almost-18-year-old, chronologically, but emotionally he's a bit younger.
I told his mom I wanted to do this and it was okay with her. Then she called me to "tell" me not to lecture him, that he has a mom, that he needs a friend (WTF? I'm not his friend, I'm his aunt!), that he doesn't need lectures from me, that I should just keep the conversation light. So I agreed; in the past she's been very disturbed by the fact that I love him like my own, to the point that she's told me (and my mom, too) that she's the mother, we're not.
Anyway, I picked him up and the first thing he says while fastening his seatbelt is, proudly, "I cut off a bus yesterday."
Well, let's preface the explosion of my head with this little factoid: he hasn't had his license for a year yet and he has 6 tickets and 2 points on his license!
So from his house to the diner, which is about 3 miles, I ranted at him about being careful, that he was lucky he wasn't hurt, that he needs to be more cautious when driving, that he has to worry about the other drivers probably more than I have to worry about his driving... His very dismissive response was, "I wasn't hurt, Cioci."
No, you weren't. THIS TIME. What about the next time you do this, and there's a car in front of that bus cutting him off the other direction? You'll be in the hospital!
Finally we got to the diner and he asked me why I always yell at him about his driving... which led into another discussion, but eventually we changed it to college. I told him how I really screwed up my freshman year's grades and that it's impossible to get out from under a D/C average, and about all the parties I went to, and how proud I personally am that I've never been drunk or done drugs, that I can say it to my children honestly, without lying or bending the truth, and we talked about choosing classes, and my crazy roommates and his roommate N from some town in NJ I've never heard of and how he hadn't called him yet and how his mom has been shopping for stuff for him and how he can't wait to get out of the house and away to college (a whopping 15 miles or so from home! which could be another blog posting...)...
Did any of that sound like a lecture? I asked him for his campus address so his aunt (me!) could surprise him with a $50 bill once in a while... His reponse? Paraphrased, he basically said sometimes he doesn't feel like he deserves people to do anything for him.
He's not even 18 yet! How can he feel so down on himself? So I told him how much I loved him and that he deserves all the good in life, and while I don't expect him to feel a sense of entitlement, that actually deserving the good things is rewarding in itself, that he should most definitely earn those good things I hope go his way... He's not even 18 yet! He should not be feeling so beaten down!
And then out of the blue, "Y'know, I don't want to offend anybody, Cioci, but I liked it better when Mom wasn't dating T." Now I like my sister's boyfriend. I really do. I was a bit perplexed as to how to handle this so I went for the tried and true: the honest approach.
I asked J if he liked T and he said he did, that he was "cool." So it's not a personality conflict with the boyfriend. Then my nephew looked up at me and said he just wished his mom would spend more time with him.
So the tried and true thing came around again: I told him that even I missed his mom, that we used to commute together, work together and talk all the time, that if I hear from her by email once a week now, that's a lot, and that I miss her to, but that I was happy she had someone decent in her life... J's dad came up in conversation, too, when J told me he had no male influence in his life. Yea, you do, J, you have your dad, your grandpa, your Uncle J, and T, too. And I'm sure if you opened yourself up to it, there were probably many teachers over the past few years who have had an influence on you...
The only thing I said about his dad, and I must say I bit my lip HARD, is that a) my sister and her ex were happy at first (a slight exaggeration, but...) but it just wasn't enough to last, and b) that if he was in front of my car right now I'd want to run him over for what he's done/not done for my nephew and my niece but that I wouldn't 'cause I knew J wouldn't want his dad... broke.
What part of any of that could be construed as a lecture?
To top it all off, when we got him home, we sat in the car in front of his house for about a 1/2 hour, laughing and talking.
J went inside and I went home.
An hour later my phone rang and my sister said she just wanted to thank me for ignoring her wishes and lecturing J.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I tried to respond and she started screaming at me that my nephew came home, went into his room, and is sitting in the dark in his underwear.
So? It's 10:30 at night, where should he be???? (Oh, wait, I forgot he came in at 1:15am the night before!!!)
She flat out refused to let me speak, said she "knew" I'd been lecturing J 'cause we sat in the car in front of the house for a 1/2 hour.
Again, WTF???
I started trying to talk and she just got louder and louder and angrier and angrier, and so did I, until finally I screamed at her that maybe J was just upset about her dating T and that he brought it up out of the blue...
WELL. That did it. It was like she morphed into a fishwife (no offense to the fishwives reading this blog!). She went apesh-t! Screaming at the top of her lungs at me, cursing. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the police on her.
So I screamed back. I hung up. Called her back. She hung up. I called her back. She screamed more. I hung up again.
Finally I waited a few moments. Then I called her back and calmly said I let her yell at me for 45 seconds and she owed me 45 seconds to tell her about our dinner. And I did. Verbatim. And you all know I can recite things back, word for word. (I may not have ever learned my organic chemistry but I can recite conversations back to you from 25 years ago!!!)
And just in case some of you are wondering if I'm re-writing history here... Since my dinner with my nephew, HE HAS CALLED ME FIVE TIMES. That's 5 times more than he's called me in the last five years. So how angry or hurt or disturbed could he have been by our dinner conversation???
And to make things worse, my sister is still pissed at me for not yet having bought my niece her b'day present. It was her Sweet 16 last February and I wanted to get her something special. My sister doesn't bother doing a b'day for her kids anymore (and I hate her for that!) so I didn't see my niece until 2 weeks later. We went to a few jewelry stores; she wanted a cross and chain but all we found that she liked was in the $300-$400 range and that was well outside my budget! So I told her to call me when she was free and we'd go and shop some more for her gift.
She didn't call. And I called every month to ask when she could go: "Just let me know, A, when you can go out for dinner and to shop for your necklace." "Ok."
My sister said she made sure to drop my b'day present on my front porch and that's the least I could have done for my niece. Yea, sure, the next time you spend $200 on me, leave it on my front porch!
I took my niece out yesterday, and she got a $260 electric guitar. She's changed her mind about the necklace. Which is part of her Christmas present 'cause that's way more than my budget, too. So on the way home I suggested she ask her mom to stay home and help her carry the big box upstairs... So I saw my sister and we were civil to each other. Hopefully we can ignore the big angry elephant in our relationship and move on...
I've been missing for days now. I really don't know why.
Oh, I could recite all the reasons my time is not my own: we've been away on vacation at the lake (without a computer), I've been SOOO busy at work (thankfully that resulted in me being close to caught-up!), I haven't really had anything much to say...
But the real reason is that I had a HUGE fight with my sister last week.
Several weeks ago I decided I wanted to take my nephew out to dinner, just the two of us, to talk about him going to college. He's a strapping almost-18-year-old, chronologically, but emotionally he's a bit younger.
I told his mom I wanted to do this and it was okay with her. Then she called me to "tell" me not to lecture him, that he has a mom, that he needs a friend (WTF? I'm not his friend, I'm his aunt!), that he doesn't need lectures from me, that I should just keep the conversation light. So I agreed; in the past she's been very disturbed by the fact that I love him like my own, to the point that she's told me (and my mom, too) that she's the mother, we're not.
Anyway, I picked him up and the first thing he says while fastening his seatbelt is, proudly, "I cut off a bus yesterday."
Well, let's preface the explosion of my head with this little factoid: he hasn't had his license for a year yet and he has 6 tickets and 2 points on his license!
So from his house to the diner, which is about 3 miles, I ranted at him about being careful, that he was lucky he wasn't hurt, that he needs to be more cautious when driving, that he has to worry about the other drivers probably more than I have to worry about his driving... His very dismissive response was, "I wasn't hurt, Cioci."
No, you weren't. THIS TIME. What about the next time you do this, and there's a car in front of that bus cutting him off the other direction? You'll be in the hospital!
Finally we got to the diner and he asked me why I always yell at him about his driving... which led into another discussion, but eventually we changed it to college. I told him how I really screwed up my freshman year's grades and that it's impossible to get out from under a D/C average, and about all the parties I went to, and how proud I personally am that I've never been drunk or done drugs, that I can say it to my children honestly, without lying or bending the truth, and we talked about choosing classes, and my crazy roommates and his roommate N from some town in NJ I've never heard of and how he hadn't called him yet and how his mom has been shopping for stuff for him and how he can't wait to get out of the house and away to college (a whopping 15 miles or so from home! which could be another blog posting...)...
Did any of that sound like a lecture? I asked him for his campus address so his aunt (me!) could surprise him with a $50 bill once in a while... His reponse? Paraphrased, he basically said sometimes he doesn't feel like he deserves people to do anything for him.
He's not even 18 yet! How can he feel so down on himself? So I told him how much I loved him and that he deserves all the good in life, and while I don't expect him to feel a sense of entitlement, that actually deserving the good things is rewarding in itself, that he should most definitely earn those good things I hope go his way... He's not even 18 yet! He should not be feeling so beaten down!
And then out of the blue, "Y'know, I don't want to offend anybody, Cioci, but I liked it better when Mom wasn't dating T." Now I like my sister's boyfriend. I really do. I was a bit perplexed as to how to handle this so I went for the tried and true: the honest approach.
I asked J if he liked T and he said he did, that he was "cool." So it's not a personality conflict with the boyfriend. Then my nephew looked up at me and said he just wished his mom would spend more time with him.
So the tried and true thing came around again: I told him that even I missed his mom, that we used to commute together, work together and talk all the time, that if I hear from her by email once a week now, that's a lot, and that I miss her to, but that I was happy she had someone decent in her life... J's dad came up in conversation, too, when J told me he had no male influence in his life. Yea, you do, J, you have your dad, your grandpa, your Uncle J, and T, too. And I'm sure if you opened yourself up to it, there were probably many teachers over the past few years who have had an influence on you...
The only thing I said about his dad, and I must say I bit my lip HARD, is that a) my sister and her ex were happy at first (a slight exaggeration, but...) but it just wasn't enough to last, and b) that if he was in front of my car right now I'd want to run him over for what he's done/not done for my nephew and my niece but that I wouldn't 'cause I knew J wouldn't want his dad... broke.
What part of any of that could be construed as a lecture?
To top it all off, when we got him home, we sat in the car in front of his house for about a 1/2 hour, laughing and talking.
J went inside and I went home.
An hour later my phone rang and my sister said she just wanted to thank me for ignoring her wishes and lecturing J.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I tried to respond and she started screaming at me that my nephew came home, went into his room, and is sitting in the dark in his underwear.
So? It's 10:30 at night, where should he be???? (Oh, wait, I forgot he came in at 1:15am the night before!!!)
She flat out refused to let me speak, said she "knew" I'd been lecturing J 'cause we sat in the car in front of the house for a 1/2 hour.
Again, WTF???
I started trying to talk and she just got louder and louder and angrier and angrier, and so did I, until finally I screamed at her that maybe J was just upset about her dating T and that he brought it up out of the blue...
WELL. That did it. It was like she morphed into a fishwife (no offense to the fishwives reading this blog!). She went apesh-t! Screaming at the top of her lungs at me, cursing. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the police on her.
So I screamed back. I hung up. Called her back. She hung up. I called her back. She screamed more. I hung up again.
Finally I waited a few moments. Then I called her back and calmly said I let her yell at me for 45 seconds and she owed me 45 seconds to tell her about our dinner. And I did. Verbatim. And you all know I can recite things back, word for word. (I may not have ever learned my organic chemistry but I can recite conversations back to you from 25 years ago!!!)
And just in case some of you are wondering if I'm re-writing history here... Since my dinner with my nephew, HE HAS CALLED ME FIVE TIMES. That's 5 times more than he's called me in the last five years. So how angry or hurt or disturbed could he have been by our dinner conversation???
And to make things worse, my sister is still pissed at me for not yet having bought my niece her b'day present. It was her Sweet 16 last February and I wanted to get her something special. My sister doesn't bother doing a b'day for her kids anymore (and I hate her for that!) so I didn't see my niece until 2 weeks later. We went to a few jewelry stores; she wanted a cross and chain but all we found that she liked was in the $300-$400 range and that was well outside my budget! So I told her to call me when she was free and we'd go and shop some more for her gift.
She didn't call. And I called every month to ask when she could go: "Just let me know, A, when you can go out for dinner and to shop for your necklace." "Ok."
My sister said she made sure to drop my b'day present on my front porch and that's the least I could have done for my niece. Yea, sure, the next time you spend $200 on me, leave it on my front porch!
I took my niece out yesterday, and she got a $260 electric guitar. She's changed her mind about the necklace. Which is part of her Christmas present 'cause that's way more than my budget, too. So on the way home I suggested she ask her mom to stay home and help her carry the big box upstairs... So I saw my sister and we were civil to each other. Hopefully we can ignore the big angry elephant in our relationship and move on...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
I don't have the highest opinion of myself. Oh, I know I'm not stupid; in fact, when I was younger, I was pretty darn bright. Good grades (we're talkin' As here!), without crackin' a book!
As I've gotten older, though, I've come to consciously realize exactly how much I don't know!
Over the past few days, though, I've been sitting in on some sales meetings, and I've been amazed at how much knowledge I've accumulated over the past four short years in this position! I retain loads of useless information: telephone numbers I can easily look up, verbatim conversations that I had literally 20 years ago! But remembering organic chemistry or physics, when I was actually enrolled in the course?!? Not so much.
But I do remember my accounts. Even the little ones. They just pop into my head when we're learning about a book that's appropriate for literally one of my several hundred customers, a customer who buys (maybe) $868 worth of books - a year! I have accounts that buy into the hundreds of thousands of dollars - but this little guy holds equal space in this freaky brain of mine! He just jumps to the forefront when they mention a book that might work for him...
The human brain is amazing! My dad (Happy Birthday, Daddy, one day late! I miss you LOTS!) used to say, "Use it or lose it!" And thankfully all my grandparents used their brains every day and that "Use it or lose it" philosophy really works: not one of them was senile when they died, even into their 90s!
I hope I can say the same for me when/if I hit my 90s!!! (Although I distinctly remember making a pact with a college friend of mine - Hi, C! - that we would live to at least 103 'cause there was just so darn much to see and do!) (From this blog to God's ears!!!)
As I've gotten older, though, I've come to consciously realize exactly how much I don't know!
Over the past few days, though, I've been sitting in on some sales meetings, and I've been amazed at how much knowledge I've accumulated over the past four short years in this position! I retain loads of useless information: telephone numbers I can easily look up, verbatim conversations that I had literally 20 years ago! But remembering organic chemistry or physics, when I was actually enrolled in the course?!? Not so much.
But I do remember my accounts. Even the little ones. They just pop into my head when we're learning about a book that's appropriate for literally one of my several hundred customers, a customer who buys (maybe) $868 worth of books - a year! I have accounts that buy into the hundreds of thousands of dollars - but this little guy holds equal space in this freaky brain of mine! He just jumps to the forefront when they mention a book that might work for him...
The human brain is amazing! My dad (Happy Birthday, Daddy, one day late! I miss you LOTS!) used to say, "Use it or lose it!" And thankfully all my grandparents used their brains every day and that "Use it or lose it" philosophy really works: not one of them was senile when they died, even into their 90s!
I hope I can say the same for me when/if I hit my 90s!!! (Although I distinctly remember making a pact with a college friend of mine - Hi, C! - that we would live to at least 103 'cause there was just so darn much to see and do!) (From this blog to God's ears!!!)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Apparently I've been away too long... My cyberpal, Miss Hope, felt the need to check up on me and see if all was well in Krys' World...
Yes, I'm fine. Just horrid busy at work! And since my ride home is now a train (at least until school starts in September!), I am not staying late so my hours in the office have been fewer, but filled to the brim with things I want to get done before I go on vacation the week of the 18th...
That week will be a silent one in Krys' World. I will not be blogging until the following week. I'm sure there is no one out there who will be devastated by this, BUT...
I.WILL.NOT.BE.ABLE.TO.READ.MY.FAVORITE.BLOGS.UNTIL.MY.WEEK'S.VACATION.IS.OVER.
And THAT, my friends, is going to be a REAL problem! You are all so important to me; I don't know what I'm going to do, not being able to keep up with you all...
When I get back to work (or back home), I'm going to have to spend a DAY catching up! Of course, those of you who have my phone number can call me when something phenomenal happens - no need to wait until I get back to my computer...
Today was my mom's b'day. I had my sister, niece and nephew, and sister's BF over for dinner. And when I get to work tomorrow, I will try to post a couple photos from the dinner so you can all wish you were there!!!
Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!!!
Yes, I'm fine. Just horrid busy at work! And since my ride home is now a train (at least until school starts in September!), I am not staying late so my hours in the office have been fewer, but filled to the brim with things I want to get done before I go on vacation the week of the 18th...
That week will be a silent one in Krys' World. I will not be blogging until the following week. I'm sure there is no one out there who will be devastated by this, BUT...
I.WILL.NOT.BE.ABLE.TO.READ.MY.FAVORITE.BLOGS.UNTIL.MY.WEEK'S.VACATION.IS.OVER.
And THAT, my friends, is going to be a REAL problem! You are all so important to me; I don't know what I'm going to do, not being able to keep up with you all...
When I get back to work (or back home), I'm going to have to spend a DAY catching up! Of course, those of you who have my phone number can call me when something phenomenal happens - no need to wait until I get back to my computer...
Today was my mom's b'day. I had my sister, niece and nephew, and sister's BF over for dinner. And when I get to work tomorrow, I will try to post a couple photos from the dinner so you can all wish you were there!!!
Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The 9 layers of ME!
I saw this one over at Postcards from the Edge and wanted to do it!
LAYER ONE:
Name: Krys S.
Birth date: December 18, 1960
Birthplace: Montclair, NJ
Current Location: Clifton, NJ
Eye Color: Blue-green, depending on what I'm wearing
Hair Color: Brown with blonde highlights
Height: 5'8"
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
LAYER TWO:
Your heritage: 1/2 Polish, 1/2 American (Dutch, English, Lenni Lenape)
The shoes you wore today: tan sandals
Your weakness: Those disgusting circus peanut candies! (I stay away from them or I'll eat the whole bag!)
Your fears: Fire, losing my family
Your perfect pizza: Mystic Pizza with extra cheese and meatballs
Goal you’d like to achieve: Lose 11 more pounds
LAYER THREE:
Your most overused phrase on AIM: 'kay
Your first waking thoughts: I wonder if I could get away with calling out sick today?
Your best physical feature: My height
What you miss the most: My family around me
LAYER FOUR:
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
McDonald’s or Burger King: Burger King
Single or group dates: I LOVE a date with my husband but we both really like going out with our friends!
Adidas or Nike: Niether - Avia
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Couldn't tell you, not too picky
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee
LAYER FIVE:
Smoke: Never, not once
Cuss: Yes, damn it! (Oops!)
Sing: I sing - badly. Knew DH and I were meant for each other when we started singing along to the radio in the car, out loud, not caring that the other heard how bad we are (although he's worse than me!).
Take a shower everyday: Absolutely, but maybe once in a while I'll miss a day on the weekend, at the lake
Do you think you’ve been in love: Absolutely
Want to go to college: Graduated University of Delaware
Liked high school: Loved it
Want to get married: I did - best decision I ever made!
Believe in yourself: More so each day
Get motion sickness: No
Think you’re attractive: Well, no one runs screaming into the wind, but there's a LOT of room for improvement!
Think you’re a health freak: No
Get along with your parent(s): Yes, even when we're not! (Miss you, Dad!)
Like thunderstorms: Not really
Play an instrument: Wish I could - took a couple weeks of piano lessons once
LAYER SIX:
In the past month…
Drank Alcohol: No
Smoked: Never did, never will
Done a drug: Never did, never will
Made out: Yes
Gone on a date: Yes
Gone to the mall: Yes
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No, not an Oreo fan
Eaten sushi: Ewww! No!
Been on stage: No
Been dumped: No, thank goodness!
Gone skating: No
Made homemade cookies: No
Gone skinny dipping: No, unless you count in the shower!
Dyed your hair: No
Stolen anything: No
LAYER SEVEN:
Ever…
Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes.
If so, was it mixed company: Yes, with my husband!
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: No
Been caught “doing something”: No
Been called a tease: Yes, but he was teasing!
Gotten beaten up: Nope
Shoplifted: I tried, but my dad caught me, spanked me, and it's never crossed my mind again!
Changed who you were to fit in: No
LAYER EIGHT:
Age you hope to be married: I thought I'd be married by 28. So I was off by a decade!
Numbers and Names of Children: 1 daughter, Maria, and 1 son, John
Describe your Dream Wedding: My dad would have walked me down the aisle and we would have danced the Father/Daughter dance. I still can't watch another bride dance with her dad without breaking down. Other than that, my wedding WAS my dream wedding!
How do you want to die: Before my husband, and in my sleep
Where you want to go to college: Already graduated from the University of Delaware
What do you want to be when you grow up: Financially stable
What country would you most like to visit: France
LAYER NINE:
Number of people I could trust with my life: 4
Number of CDs that I own: Maybe 30
Number of piercing: One, unless you count both ears!
Number of tattoos: Zero
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: 3 that I know of (when my dad died, when we got married, and when we wanted to add on to our house at the lake)
Number of scars on my body: 4
Number of things in my past that I regret: 1
YOUR TURN! If you decide to play…let me know cause I wanna read your 9 layers!
I saw this one over at Postcards from the Edge and wanted to do it!
LAYER ONE:
Name: Krys S.
Birth date: December 18, 1960
Birthplace: Montclair, NJ
Current Location: Clifton, NJ
Eye Color: Blue-green, depending on what I'm wearing
Hair Color: Brown with blonde highlights
Height: 5'8"
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
LAYER TWO:
Your heritage: 1/2 Polish, 1/2 American (Dutch, English, Lenni Lenape)
The shoes you wore today: tan sandals
Your weakness: Those disgusting circus peanut candies! (I stay away from them or I'll eat the whole bag!)
Your fears: Fire, losing my family
Your perfect pizza: Mystic Pizza with extra cheese and meatballs
Goal you’d like to achieve: Lose 11 more pounds
LAYER THREE:
Your most overused phrase on AIM: 'kay
Your first waking thoughts: I wonder if I could get away with calling out sick today?
Your best physical feature: My height
What you miss the most: My family around me
LAYER FOUR:
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
McDonald’s or Burger King: Burger King
Single or group dates: I LOVE a date with my husband but we both really like going out with our friends!
Adidas or Nike: Niether - Avia
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Couldn't tell you, not too picky
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee
LAYER FIVE:
Smoke: Never, not once
Cuss: Yes, damn it! (Oops!)
Sing: I sing - badly. Knew DH and I were meant for each other when we started singing along to the radio in the car, out loud, not caring that the other heard how bad we are (although he's worse than me!).
Take a shower everyday: Absolutely, but maybe once in a while I'll miss a day on the weekend, at the lake
Do you think you’ve been in love: Absolutely
Want to go to college: Graduated University of Delaware
Liked high school: Loved it
Want to get married: I did - best decision I ever made!
Believe in yourself: More so each day
Get motion sickness: No
Think you’re attractive: Well, no one runs screaming into the wind, but there's a LOT of room for improvement!
Think you’re a health freak: No
Get along with your parent(s): Yes, even when we're not! (Miss you, Dad!)
Like thunderstorms: Not really
Play an instrument: Wish I could - took a couple weeks of piano lessons once
LAYER SIX:
In the past month…
Drank Alcohol: No
Smoked: Never did, never will
Done a drug: Never did, never will
Made out: Yes
Gone on a date: Yes
Gone to the mall: Yes
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No, not an Oreo fan
Eaten sushi: Ewww! No!
Been on stage: No
Been dumped: No, thank goodness!
Gone skating: No
Made homemade cookies: No
Gone skinny dipping: No, unless you count in the shower!
Dyed your hair: No
Stolen anything: No
LAYER SEVEN:
Ever…
Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes.
If so, was it mixed company: Yes, with my husband!
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: No
Been caught “doing something”: No
Been called a tease: Yes, but he was teasing!
Gotten beaten up: Nope
Shoplifted: I tried, but my dad caught me, spanked me, and it's never crossed my mind again!
Changed who you were to fit in: No
LAYER EIGHT:
Age you hope to be married: I thought I'd be married by 28. So I was off by a decade!
Numbers and Names of Children: 1 daughter, Maria, and 1 son, John
Describe your Dream Wedding: My dad would have walked me down the aisle and we would have danced the Father/Daughter dance. I still can't watch another bride dance with her dad without breaking down. Other than that, my wedding WAS my dream wedding!
How do you want to die: Before my husband, and in my sleep
Where you want to go to college: Already graduated from the University of Delaware
What do you want to be when you grow up: Financially stable
What country would you most like to visit: France
LAYER NINE:
Number of people I could trust with my life: 4
Number of CDs that I own: Maybe 30
Number of piercing: One, unless you count both ears!
Number of tattoos: Zero
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: 3 that I know of (when my dad died, when we got married, and when we wanted to add on to our house at the lake)
Number of scars on my body: 4
Number of things in my past that I regret: 1
YOUR TURN! If you decide to play…let me know cause I wanna read your 9 layers!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium.
We didn't eat any lunch; we stopped on the road, ate some tortilla chips and salsa, then continued on our way. By the time we got home we were ravenous! DH made himself an omelet and I ate my leftover Citrus Chicken (mmm!). Then we just sat down and relaxed.
I'm SUCH a tourist! I just LOVE going places I've never been and taking over 500 pictures (of course only about 250 were actually in focus and bright enough to see!) and doing all the touristy things you can do...
We drove up to Mystic on Friday morning. Friday, our 9th anniversary. And we spent it driving. Together. In one vehicle. And I wasn't driving. 'Nough said.
We got there with no traffic events and that includes no traffic over the George Washington Bridge. I think that's the first time I've driven over it and not hit disgusting delays. We took our time on the way to Mystic, stopping once at the Connecticut Tourist Center on I-95. We picked up, oh, I don't know, 20 or 30 pamphlets which, for the rest of the trip, were strewn on the car floor under my feet. (I should have thought to take a picture of that - THAT would have been a great scrapping picture! Perhaps I can recreate it...)
We went to the hotel and couldn't check in; we were too early. We drove to Mystic and walked around the shops. It was like someone was smiling down on us: no traffic on the way there, parking right on the street... We saw the Mystic Drawbridge stop traffic for several minutes while some GORGEOUS boats passed through below us.
We went back to the hotel after 3pm to check in and there it was: my 1st mistake. I booked the room online but didn't notice the miniature cigarette on the room icon. It was a smoking room but I didn't know it. I DID notice they didn't ask me if I wanted smoking or non-smoking so I put a note on my reservation for a non-smoking room. When we were there to check in they told us they were sold out and didn't know if they could move us. While we were there she answered the phone a few times and each time the person was told, "Sorry, we're sold out. We have no rooms. I don't think there are many rooms available in town..." They offered to put some kind of machine in our room to take out as much smoke as possible, some sort of air purifier or something, so we thanked them, opened the window and put the A/C on 60 degrees, then left them to clean the air.
We went back to town and ate at Mystic Pizza. (Tourist here, remember?!?) And the pizza was, indeed, terrific! The movie was playing (no sound) on several TV screens around the room so DH and I spent the time reciting dialogue... Can you tell we've seen the movie?!?
We walked around a bit more and returned to the now freezing room. There's no way, for the record, to get smoke out of a smoking room. So we left the window open and the A/C on, put our pillows on the window ledge to air out, called the front desk for another non-smelly blanket, turned on the television and watched some mindless stuff for an hour or so. They were very cooperative and brought up a blanket within 10 minutes or so. At least that helped when it was time to go nappies...
On Saturday we went to Mystic Seaport. We went in every building, walked in/on/around every ship, visited every shop in case they had some have-to-have-it junk, and had an absolute BLAST checking out all the wooden boats that were docked there for the Antique Boat Show we didn't know would be there!
On Sunday we went to church in the morning, then went to Mystic Aquarium. It rained ALL.DAY. Not part of the day. ALL.DAY. So the 30% of the Aquarium that was outside we were lucky enough to tour in the early morning so we didn't get too wet; it was drizzling then. The skies opened around lunchtime, with such thunder and lightning, and we spent the afternoon indoors. A bit damp and a bit chilly, but not soaking wet, at least! We left around 3pm for the trip home and didn't get home 'til around 7:30 - a much longer return trip than the trip there.
We didn't eat any lunch; we stopped on the road, ate some tortilla chips and salsa, then continued on our way. By the time we got home we were ravenous! DH made himself an omelet and I ate my leftover Citrus Chicken (mmm!). Then we just sat down and relaxed.On Monday we got up and went to Home Depot (surprise, surprise!). Then our friends M & G called and said they'd love to go with us to the lake and see the house (I had to go pick up a book). We took them on a mini tour on 1 side of the lake, stopped at a house that was for sale, a house we were all interested in... It's under construction, framed, sided, windowed, and roofed, with 2 tubs installed (or possibly just set into place), and a deck, but nothing else. No electric, no plumbing, no anything else. We called our realtor to get a price for M & G, but if they're not interested, to be quite honest, DH and I are! I just wish the real estate market was a bit better. It would have been PERFECT to get it at the price our realtor recommended three years ago, fix it and resell it, when homes were still moving at if not top dollar, at least for what they were worth. Now it would be a tough thing to do; we'd be carrying it for a while. Not sure it's something we really want to get into, but we're mulling it over...
Well, I'm at work and at some point I have to get back to doing what they pay me to do, so I'm gonna sign off now! Toodles!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
An award!!! An award!!! I've won an award!!! I've never won an award before!!!
My blogging friend, Miss Hope, has awarded me the Brilliant Weblog Premio-2008 Award! [Personally I think the southern sun has caused her to feel a bit faint - surely I don't deserve such an award... If you read her blog, you'll see she thinks I have a busy life. Not really, not busy...]
The only catch is that I have to pass the Award along to seven other worthy bloggers. (I suppose I can't really just send it on back to Miss Hope, since she's already received her award but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE visit her - she'll be your friend, too!)
So let's try it... here you go...
- Jeanette at A Passion for Scrapbooking, Decorating and Shopping - Some day my house will look like hers - NOT! I found her while I was trying to design a scrapping room but she's since become one of my favorite bloggers. She somehow has the time to find all this stuff, but the thing that appeals to me the most is her vision. She has an idea in her head of how she wants her house to look, and is on a path to getting it. Not like me - not only is my dinner table full of leftovers and hand-me-downs, but my home is, too!!! One of the nicest things about Jeanette is she's so responsive - if you drop her an email or a comment, it's not unusual to hear back from her...
- Dawn at Because I Said So is the mother of 6. Now although I haven't birthed them from my loins, I'm the (step)mom of 2 (adult kids) and every time I visit the salon, I ask if there's a grey hair in there. So far, no, but I know, deep inside, it's just a matter of time! 6 kids! Young'uns, too! But she has time to write a book, visit BlogHer as a speaker... I haven't even done a load of laundry in weeks (thank goodness DH is on summer break and he's been doing them!)... Dawn and I have never met, but my neighbor has 5 boys, and when I read Dawn's blog, I can so easily pretend that she lives right next door!!!
- I actually had the chance to meet Suzanne when I visited my sister in AZ this past spring. If you know me, you know that I am obsessed with becoming organized. Not that I've done it, not that I'm particularly in the process of doing it, but along with time management (another lofty goal!), I read all I can read about organization with the intention of applying it (someday). Suzanne has this great website called Let's Talk Organizing. I actually won several hours of organizing help from her when she opened her new offices; that's how we "met" and when I found myself heading out AZ-way, we both jumped at the opportunity to meet. She's a fun, bubbly lady who loves her kids, Scotland, 2008 Dodge Caravans and her blog - go and read her blog for some terrific ideas and you'll meet a great person, too!
- I have the pleasure of working with Ellen at a not-to-be-named publishing house in NJ (yes, if you do a bit of digging, you could figure it out...). Her blog is IT-oriented, family-oriented, music-oriented, work-oriented - in no particular order! She's a bright, funny woman and I think you should visit her blog to laugh and learn (again, in no particular order!).
- Although I can't say that I'm personally friends with Heather, I think her site, Dooce, is one of the best blogs I've ever run across. Her writing is outstanding, and what a way with words!! I'll warn you - it's not for the faint of heart! But if you read nothing else, read her monthly newsletters to her daughter Leta - that is one mom just filled to bursting with love for her baby girl!!! And be sure to check out her three daily photo postings - love her sense of style and Chuck and Coco? A picture is worth a thousand words!
I can't do it. I can't come up with 7. I don't want to just list 7 blogs I read. I wanted them to be friends. Blog pals. Like Miss Hope. I read quite a few blogs, most of them, though, topical - they're scrapping blogs, and while they're great, they're not my friends, and I can't speak personally about the authors. There are a couple up there that are more acquaintances than friends, but as you know, their lives are open to us through their blogs and we just feel like we know them!
Even though Miss Hope has already received this award from her friend Chelle, I think she deserves it again, so she's my #6!
I have a #7 but it's a private blog and she wouldn't be too thrilled with receiving this award. So E, #7 is for you, but you'll never know about it 'cause I won't tell you about it, and you don't know I have a blog...
Monday, July 21, 2008
Thanks to all who kept my daughter in their prayers last week.
The surgery was successful in a number of ways. No tumors. No cysts. They removed a lot of endometriosis that was spreading toward her back, but there was none on her organs. Her recovery will be painful; after all, her insides were all moved around and scraped... No need to remove her ovary, as she had thought...
AND she's feeling better, post-op, and can't wait to come home. So much so, in fact, that she's been calling us several times a day... She's staying with her mom, which is good for her - her little brother and sister are there to entertain her, but she's really looking forward to being here, in her own apartment.
I suggested she put together a shopping list and her Dad and I can buy what she needs and get it into the apartment before she comes home. We'd be happy to go down and pick her up; don't know yet how or when she's coming back up here, but we hope it's before Friday, when we leave for our mini vacation in...
Ta da!
Mystic, CT!
I've always wanted to go there! Jack originally wanted to go to a bed-and-breakfast in Cape May, but we're last-minute planners (unless we're traveling with others who are not!) and our anniversary weekend wasn't available. Plus, quite frankly, the rooms were much more expensive than we're comfortable spending. I just can't wrap my arms (or my checkbook!) around more than $200 a night for a bed and a bathroom, no matter how nice they are, not when I have to pay for them! When I'm traveling for work and getting reimbursed? Money is no object! But we just need a clean room, clean sheets and a clean bathroom - we're only going to be there to shower and sleep...
I can't wait to go! I'll post some pictures next week, when we return!
The surgery was successful in a number of ways. No tumors. No cysts. They removed a lot of endometriosis that was spreading toward her back, but there was none on her organs. Her recovery will be painful; after all, her insides were all moved around and scraped... No need to remove her ovary, as she had thought...
AND she's feeling better, post-op, and can't wait to come home. So much so, in fact, that she's been calling us several times a day... She's staying with her mom, which is good for her - her little brother and sister are there to entertain her, but she's really looking forward to being here, in her own apartment.
I suggested she put together a shopping list and her Dad and I can buy what she needs and get it into the apartment before she comes home. We'd be happy to go down and pick her up; don't know yet how or when she's coming back up here, but we hope it's before Friday, when we leave for our mini vacation in...
Ta da!
Mystic, CT!
I've always wanted to go there! Jack originally wanted to go to a bed-and-breakfast in Cape May, but we're last-minute planners (unless we're traveling with others who are not!) and our anniversary weekend wasn't available. Plus, quite frankly, the rooms were much more expensive than we're comfortable spending. I just can't wrap my arms (or my checkbook!) around more than $200 a night for a bed and a bathroom, no matter how nice they are, not when I have to pay for them! When I'm traveling for work and getting reimbursed? Money is no object! But we just need a clean room, clean sheets and a clean bathroom - we're only going to be there to shower and sleep...
I can't wait to go! I'll post some pictures next week, when we return!
Monday, July 14, 2008
I'd like to ask for your prayers...
My DSD has been suffering for YEARS from endometriosis, along with a pre-big-C condition of her cervix, and severe cramping and ovarian tumors and fibroid tumors.
This Friday she goes in (again) for a laparoscopy. While it's minimally invasive, she was pretty sore the last time she had one done.
Please cross your fingers, light a candle, say a prayer - whatever you're comfortable with... She's been in pain for years and years, and with other stuff going on in her life, being healthy would bring her a lot of peace of mind...
Thanks, friends!
My DSD has been suffering for YEARS from endometriosis, along with a pre-big-C condition of her cervix, and severe cramping and ovarian tumors and fibroid tumors.
This Friday she goes in (again) for a laparoscopy. While it's minimally invasive, she was pretty sore the last time she had one done.
Please cross your fingers, light a candle, say a prayer - whatever you're comfortable with... She's been in pain for years and years, and with other stuff going on in her life, being healthy would bring her a lot of peace of mind...
Thanks, friends!
Friday, July 11, 2008
THIS, THIS is why, other than the fact that I'm married to the most perfect man in the world, I am SO GLAD I'M NOT SINGLE.
Please allow me to warn you - you will be disgusted by this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acERZQIAjUk
I know nothing about the background of this clip; I heard it on a blog I visit once a week or so. Be sure to read the history on YouTube. And whatever you do, don't go to Dmitri's website...
Now keep in mind that I'm no great beauty. Men have never crawled out of the woodwork and fought each other have the honor of taking me out on a date. (They don't run screaming into the wind, either, though!) In fact, you can count on one finger how many boyfriends I've had, and on one hand how many different men I've dated in my life at least once. BUT, before you think me a pathetic loser, keep in mind that when you're waiting for Mr. Right, it's not such bad a thing to not have to suffer through all those Mr. Wrongs...
I knew all about the theory of kissing a few toads before you find your prince. However, I've discarded that theory as absolutely DISGUSTING after watching the various Bachelors and Bachelorettes kiss several toads, all within hours (or minutes!) of each other, whilst looking for Mr./Miss Right. [Insert disgusted shiver here.]
I'm a firm believer in waiting for THE ONE. And I also believe we all have a ONE. We just have to be open to the possibilities, just not open for business!!!
And I truly believe, in my heart of hearts, that Dmitri is not THE ONE for ANYONE!!!
Please allow me to warn you - you will be disgusted by this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acERZQIAjUk
I know nothing about the background of this clip; I heard it on a blog I visit once a week or so. Be sure to read the history on YouTube. And whatever you do, don't go to Dmitri's website...
Now keep in mind that I'm no great beauty. Men have never crawled out of the woodwork and fought each other have the honor of taking me out on a date. (They don't run screaming into the wind, either, though!) In fact, you can count on one finger how many boyfriends I've had, and on one hand how many different men I've dated in my life at least once. BUT, before you think me a pathetic loser, keep in mind that when you're waiting for Mr. Right, it's not such bad a thing to not have to suffer through all those Mr. Wrongs...
I knew all about the theory of kissing a few toads before you find your prince. However, I've discarded that theory as absolutely DISGUSTING after watching the various Bachelors and Bachelorettes kiss several toads, all within hours (or minutes!) of each other, whilst looking for Mr./Miss Right. [Insert disgusted shiver here.]
I'm a firm believer in waiting for THE ONE. And I also believe we all have a ONE. We just have to be open to the possibilities, just not open for business!!!
And I truly believe, in my heart of hearts, that Dmitri is not THE ONE for ANYONE!!!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Sex and the City.
A movie I would have bet money I'd never see.
And I'd have lost.
Last week my niece called me and asked if I wanted to go see it with her. I debated and debated. After all, it's not my cup of tea.
The movie tickets were free. And I hadn't been to a movie in months and months and months and I miss going to the movies.
And surprisingly, it wasn't bad. Now, none of the girls will win an Academy Award for their performances, but if you look beneath the sex and the city and the labels, it did a good job illustrating the devotion and dedication best girlfriends have with/for each other.
And I'll never brag that I went to see it. After all, I spent a lot of minutes over the life of the HBO show telling how "I don't watch porn" and "I saw 5 minutes of an episode once and all I saw was Samantha having sex with some guy."
But it brought back girlfriends and fun and parties and get-togethers and I miss the Entenmann's Pineapple Crunch Cake after the Domino's Garbage Pie with Coke or Pepsi, and the pot (or pots) of coffee we'd go through with dessert.
Oh well, even though the girls never really moved on, we did, but I can't wait for dinner at the Olive Garden and a little girl talk!!!
A movie I would have bet money I'd never see.
And I'd have lost.
Last week my niece called me and asked if I wanted to go see it with her. I debated and debated. After all, it's not my cup of tea.
The movie tickets were free. And I hadn't been to a movie in months and months and months and I miss going to the movies.
And surprisingly, it wasn't bad. Now, none of the girls will win an Academy Award for their performances, but if you look beneath the sex and the city and the labels, it did a good job illustrating the devotion and dedication best girlfriends have with/for each other.
And I'll never brag that I went to see it. After all, I spent a lot of minutes over the life of the HBO show telling how "I don't watch porn" and "I saw 5 minutes of an episode once and all I saw was Samantha having sex with some guy."
But it brought back girlfriends and fun and parties and get-togethers and I miss the Entenmann's Pineapple Crunch Cake after the Domino's Garbage Pie with Coke or Pepsi, and the pot (or pots) of coffee we'd go through with dessert.
Oh well, even though the girls never really moved on, we did, but I can't wait for dinner at the Olive Garden and a little girl talk!!!
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