Don't Blink, Life Goes Faster Than You Think.

Gratitude Challenge Day 2

2011-11-02T07:54:00.004-04:00

I am grateful for the beautiful sunrise that I am seeing today as I look my window.

The Gratitude Challenge

2011-11-01T10:29:00.006-04:00

Wow November is already here. It is the time of year when we start thinking of things that we are grateful for. So for the next 30 days I am going to post what I am grateful for. Will you join me in this challenge? Leave what you are grateful for in the comment section.

Day 1: I am grateful for my family. I have a wonderful husband and two awesome kids that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Experience Wanted

2011-10-19T10:10:00.003-04:00

I want to get back into the career field. Recently have submitted several resumes and had a few interviews. But I keep getting the same response, "We have decide to go with another candidate who has more experience." My question is how do get the experience if no one will hire you and give you a chance. I would love to hear some feedback.

Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

2011-09-21T09:41:00.007-04:00

Fall is here and what better time to make pumpkin ice cream. Here is my recipe for homemade pumpkin ice cream with an ice cream maker. This will make about 2 quarts of ice cream.

Ingredients:
1 quart heavy whipping cream
1 cup of pureed pumpkin
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons pumpkin spice mix

Place all ingredients in ice cream maker in order as above. Follow the directions according to your ice cream maker.

Enjoy.

So Many Stories

2011-08-07T13:20:00.006-04:00

Recently we went to the beach and each night my family and I would take a walk on the beach. I would look down at the sand, watching out for shells or other objects not to step on.

Then I realized there are soooo many different footprints in the sand. Each of those different footprints belongs to someone in this world. Each footprint in that sand has some story. A story that may be very fascinating or very unforgettable. But they are all stories that belong to someone out there in this big world. Who are they? Where did they come from? It's a big world!

Just One of Those Days

2011-06-09T11:03:00.008-04:00

A good friend and I had planned to meet at the new wine store, sample some and just be adults before the kids got out of school. I was so looking forward to this day. However I got off to a late start and tried to make a quick mental list of tasks to do: get gas (cause I'm running on fumes), go grocery shopping, (because everyone complains there is nothing to eat) marinate the lamb(new dish I am trying) and meet my friend.

So out the door I go and don't you know it starts pouring down rain. I pull in to the gas station to pump my gas and get pounded by the rain. I thought to myself, it is just rain. Then I looked down at my feet and noticed that I had two different shoes on. I can not possibly go into the grocery store with two different shoes on my feet. So back home to change my shoes and then back out the door to get groceries.

Next stop was the grocery store. I was on a mission to buy a nice piece of lamb. I happened to watch Rachael Ray cook up an awesome Mediterranean Lamb dish that I just had to try. I knew NOTHING about lamb. Thank God for the butcher, I explained to him what I wanted and he cut a nice piece of meet for my needs.

Then it was time check. I have got to check out if I am going to get everything done before my "outing". It's a miracle, no waiting in line to check out (that never happens to me). Check out, rush home, unload my groceries, and prepare my lamb for the marinade.

I prepare all the ingredients except for the lamb. Wait, where is it? The lamb, that beautiful special cut lamb. It has to be here. I checked my receipt. I had everything but the lamb. So back down to Giant Eagle I go. Check with the cashier, sure enough I forgot to take it. Hurried home and finished preparing the lamb. Back out door to meet my friend for that well deserved glass of wine. Oh yeah, did I happen to mention that the grocery store was in the same mall area as the wine store?

What Will I Do Now?

2011-05-25T12:38:00.006-04:00

What will I do now is the question I have been asking myself. All of my favorite television shows had their season finale or will this week. Celebrity Apprentice ended Sunday, with my favorite John Rich winning and for a great cause.

Another favorite show just ended last night, DWTS (Dancing With the Stars for those of you who don't follow it). My favorite couldn't be more obvious being from the Steeler Nation, Hines Ward danced away with the mirror ball trophy.

What will tonight bring on American Idol? Will it be Lauren or Scotty? My favorite is Scotty. Will I will the trifecta? Good luck to both contestants, they are both very talented.

.

Chicken Tenders

2011-05-16T18:33:00.003-04:00

Is it a baseball or soccer night in your house? Need a quick healthy meal & not the processed stuff? This worked for me the other day. I also made a nice pasta salad with fresh veggies & whole wheat pasta. The the whole wheat pasta provides an excellent source of protein.

Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

8 strips of chicken

2 eggs

2 Tbs. unsalted butter (melted)

2 Tbs. milk

5 cups of breadcrumbs

Olive oil

1) Beat eggs & add milk together.

2) Add melted butter to egg & milk mixture.

3) Dry chicken with paper towel.

4) Dip each chicken strip into egg milk mixture. Allow excess to drain off.

5) Coat chicken with bread crumbs.

6) Repeat steps 4 & 5 one additional time.

7) Pour about 1 1/2 -2 cups of olive oil into a large frying pan.

8) Heat oil in pan on medium-high heat.

9) Add chicken to heated pan & allow to brown on both sides.

10) Once chicken is done browning remove from frying pan & place on a baking sheet & bake for an additional 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

11) Remove from oven & serve.

Happy Monday

2011-05-16T10:38:00.001-04:00

This is exactly how I feel about Mondays.

The Writing Was on the Wall

2011-05-15T13:36:00.003-04:00

The writing was truly on the wall. I just didn't think it would be my husband's nephew. My husband & I have always predicted that it would be one of his niece's that would become pregnant at sixteen. Well, just last week on Mother's Day of all days, we found out that my nephew & his seventeen year old girlfriend are pregnant. I will take this as a teaching moment with my own children & explain to them there are consequences for your actions.

Thank You

2011-03-07T13:43:00.005-05:00

I wanted to thanks Red Pack for the wonderful gift.

10th Birthday Party for Girls

2011-03-05T14:59:00.008-05:00

We recently celebrated my daughter's 10th birthday with a sleepover. I was at a loss for things to keep them occupied. I managed to pull it off with great success. First we did hair wraps. This was my daughter's idea. At first I wasn't happy about it, I have never done a hair wrap in my life. But with a little research & some practice, it was a great success.

Next on the agenda was to decorate their own pillowcases. We used fabric markers & just plain white standard size cases & the girls unleashed their creativity.

Of course what party goes without food? The girls made their own mini pizza. I just used plain bread dough & made small pizza shells. The girls added their own toppings & then we baked.

Next was the cake. For the love of soccer it was a soccer cake. It was of course homemade.

To top off the night, the girls did a glow in the dark scavenger hunt with glow sticks. We turned out the lights only allowing night lights. The girls divide themselves into 2 teams & searched for the hidden glow sticks.

Sugar Shack

2011-01-05T09:06:00.004-05:00

Homemade cookies. Many varieties. Contact sugarshack1@verizon.net for details.

The Things We Do For Love

2010-12-21T19:14:00.007-05:00

We attempted to see Santa on a Thursday night but the line was so long & since it was a school night we bagged it. We promised my daughter we would return Friday after school and we did just that. We waited in line for about 20 minutes, only to find out that he was scheduled to go to dinner in 5 minutes. So we waited, and waited, and waited. So to pass the time, we people watched & took some pictures. But the 2 1/2 hour wait was priceless.

Holiday Ideas

2010-12-06T18:56:00.012-05:00

The holidays are quickly approaching. I have one of two trees decorated & the outside of my house complete. The outside is simple, just the wreath that I made, garland around the door & two tall topiary trees with clear lights. We strategically placed two spot lights on the house to bring out the wow factor.

The Christmas tree is a nine footer in the entry way. It is decorated in all red & gold. However it is not complete, I am still looking for the right tree top.

We Put the FUN in Dsyfunction

2010-11-23T14:05:00.006-05:00

So Hell must have just froze over this past weekend. If you know me & my family you know how dysfunctional we are. This picture was taken this weekend at my house. My sister came in from out of town with her daughter & we managed to get everyone together.

It was not any easy task, but it happened. Just a few were missing from this picture, like my husband. He was the only one that was able to take the picture. Also missing was my brother-in-law & nephew. Oh yeah, my other sister, but that is another story for another time.

Yes Virginia, their is a Santa Claus. Happy Holidays!

Negative Energy

2010-10-21T20:30:00.011-04:00

The energy you give off is the energy you receive. I am a firm believer in this. My son's football team lost to their rival over the weekend 46-6. The negative energy that has come off of the coach is unreal. He made the boys run extra laps at practice the past 2 days because of the loss. The coach yelled & screamed at the boys last night & dropped the F bomb on them. This is not the pros coach, these are 11 year old boys.

As a result of the coaches negative energy, my son has no desire to attend practice anymore. He doesn't start, he is second string. He took him & a few other kids off of special teams. The only time he plays is when they are kicking the crap out of the other team or when their is 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter & they are losing by double digits & no chance of catching up.

Should we finish out the season if they make the playoffs or just end the year on Saturday for the last game? Or do we quit now? And another thing, some parent is collecting money to buy the coaches gifts to give at the banquet. What do you think about that?

Prayers Requested

2010-10-20T17:57:00.001-04:00

Please keep my daughter's friend & her family in your thoughts & prayers. They lost their home & all of their belongings in a fire over the weekend.

That's My Boy

2010-09-15T15:02:00.001-04:00

Check out number 44. That's my boy!

It's Polamalu

2010-09-12T19:49:00.001-04:00

Welcome back Troy. We missed you last year.

The Boys of Fall

2010-09-07T09:17:00.001-04:00

CTRL ALT DEL

2010-08-24T10:10:00.002-04:00

I wish people would stop thinking that I am their CTRL ALT DEL button for all of their problems.

The Newest Addition to Our Family

2010-08-22T12:58:00.002-04:00

We did it. We pulled the trigger & finally got a new vehicle. My husband & I knew it was a matter of time before the Blazer would die. We have been debating on what type of car to purchase. Friday night we looked at the Toyota Camry & the Hyundai Sonata. Well Saturday morning after doing some research on line, we ended up with this baby! It was a deal we couldn't pass up.

Quote of the Day

2010-08-16T16:25:00.002-04:00

Wine is cheaper, than Therapy!

Quote of the Day

2010-08-13T12:23:00.001-04:00

I'm going to make my own brand of beer called Responsibly. I'd get free advertising from competitors 'Please drink Responsibly"- Happy Friday everyone

Quote of the Day

2010-08-12T20:51:00.003-04:00

Life is like one huge crazy roller coaster full of twists & scary turns but how you approach & deal with them only makes you much stronger!

Place of Worship

2010-08-09T10:44:00.010-04:00

Since when does it matter what the structure of your place of worship looks like? My mother in law watched the kids for the first time in about a year so my hubby & I can go out. She literally walked through the door & said there is mass at 5 pm up at the church, I am taking the kids, put some nice clothes on kids.

Not asking if we minded taking them Saturday night because maybe we like to go as a family on Sunday morning. So as fast as the dust cloud rolled in, I got the kids ready & the dust cloud rolled out.

So out everyone went, the grandparents & kids to church & the festival & mom & dad to the casino. We returned to our house by 9 pm or so (no it wasn't a long evening for us. We always feel rushed when the in laws actually watch the kids. That is a story for another time). We all sat & talked about our evening when my husband asked his devoted Catholic mother about our new church. Her response was "It reminds me of a Protestant church." Not once but several times she made the comment. My husband asked her does it matter what the building looks like? Her response was that it is not that traditional Catholic Church & the host sits further back & not up high.

If you are a true Christian, why should that all matter & bother someone? Isn't God everywhere? Where did people worship before they built churches? At least we go to a church. Give us some credit.

It's Greek to Me

2010-08-06T19:36:00.005-04:00

So my son comes home with his playbook for football. Oh how cute. Yeah right, in the middle of the afternoon he said "Coach told us we have to know all the positions on each play." Say what? Your asking the wrong person to review this with you honey! It might as well been written in Hebrew. Oh the joys of being a football mom.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

2010-08-05T14:23:00.004-04:00

Are you ready for some football? We are around here. Football practice started Monday & is kicking into high gear. This is our first season for youth football. I'm sure that it will be very interesting. What a work out these boys get. This is exactly what he needs. He has so much energy & needs to release it on someone other than his sister.

The Interesting Visitor

2010-08-04T19:20:00.007-04:00

Look what decided to pay me a visit at my sliding glass door. Isn't life incredible? How can you say there is no God.

Chicken & Dumplings

2010-07-28T11:04:00.004-04:00

This recipe was adapted by the one in Rachael Ray's cookbook.

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts
6 carrots
6 celery stocks
3 cans of chicken broth
1 small onion
2-3 cloves of garlic
2-3 Tbs flour
Jiffy mix
2 teaspoons of olive oil (separated in half)

Directions:

Scrape carrots & then slice. Cut tops off of celery & slice. Combine carrots & celery & set aside in a bowel. Chop onions.

Heat a large frying pain on low to medium heat & sauté onions until translucent. Peel garlic clove & chop. Add garlic to onion & cook for about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn garlic.

Clean chicken breast & pat dry. Cut chicken into cubes & place in a plastic bag. Add 2 tablespoons of flour to bag. Add a few dashes of salt & pepper to the bag. Shake chicken in bag, making sure that each chicken cube in coated with flour. Add chicken to the onion & garlic in the pan & brown. Once chicken is brown, remove the chicken from heat & place in a separate bowel & set on the side.

In same pan that chicken was browned, add another teaspoon of olive oil. Allow oil to warm then add carrots & celery then sauté for about 5 minutes.

You will need 2 large pots, like a dutch oven to prepare the rest of the recipe. Add 1 can of chicken broth to each dutch oven & ½ of the remaining can to each pot. Allow broth to come to a mild boil. Add half carrots & celery to each dutch oven. Give carrots & celery a good stir. Add ½ of chicken to each dutch oven. Turn heat down to low once chicken is added.

Prepare Jiffy mix according to package for drop biscuits. Drop spoonfuls Jiffy Mix into the dutch oven. Divide the mixture between both pots. Cover dutch oven with lid or foil. Allow to simmer on low for about 15 minutes. You want the biscuits to rise in the pot. Remove heat from pots & allow the contents in the pot to thicken up. Once chicken mixture appears thick, it is ready to enjoy.

Groundhog Day

2010-07-27T08:36:00.004-04:00

Yes, it is groundhog day at my house once again. If you follow my blog, you know about the ordeal that I went through last summer with my mom. Well last Friday at about 2:45 am my mom took a dive down our stairs causing her to break her wrist & arm.

She is having surgery today & will go to rehab for some time. After that, I am not sure what will happen. I'm not sure I can put myself through the chances of her falling again. I have been in contact with some folks about assisted living. The madness just never ends!

Tying to Get that Feeling Again

2010-07-12T11:53:00.002-04:00

How does that old Barry Manilow song go? "I've been up, down, trying to get that feeling again."

I've been trying to get that feeling of my childhood back. Those were the days of no stress or worries. Or, when I first got married & we went on our honeymoon. I had a feeling of eternal happiness.

Well, I have been trying so hard to get those feelings back. There have been days when I have caught glimpses of it but it runs away so fast.

My question is, how do I keep that feeling?

Happy Birthday USA

2010-07-04T08:36:00.001-04:00

Homemade Pizza Sauce

2010-07-03T11:45:00.006-04:00

For years I have tried different ways to make homemade pizza sauce. I think I finally found what I was looking for.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:

Three cans of tomato paste (6 oz can)
One can of tomato sauce (15 oz can)
Half cup of chopped onion
Three cloves of garlic (chopped)
2 teaspoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of granulated sugar
Dry oregano- a few generous shakes (alternative to use is pizza seasoning).

In a sauce pan add 3 cans of tomato paste & tomato sauce, cook on low heat.

Add onions, garlic, olive oil, sugar & oregano.

Continue to cook for about 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

ENJOY!

How Do You Know When You Are Making the Right Decisions

2010-07-02T08:32:00.003-04:00

How do you know when you are making the right decisions? I am looking for any input from those who have been through the process of caring for an elderly parent.

I am a 40 something woman caring for my 84 year old mother, in addition to my two beautiful children ages 11 & 9. This confirms I am the sandwiched generation. Over the past year, my husband & I have been faced with many decisions regarding my mother's care.

Last fall, I made the decision to place her in assisted living. It was not an easy decision, however it was the decision that I made.

During her stay, all mom did was cry & say she couldn't stay there. We came to a compromise that we would build a bigger house & she would live with us. That is when the search for a lot began & through the grace of God, we found the perfect place to meet our wants & needs.

In the interim, we moved my mother from assisted living to save on expenses. The living arrangements have been very tight in a tiny house with only one bathroom. We transformed our dining room into her bedroom & had to take a number for bathroom privileges.

Well the time finally arrived for the long awaited move. Everyone has their own room, three bathrooms, one powder room & a finished basement (in the event that my mom would no longer be able to climb the stairs). Now is the time to enjoy & relax in the new house.

Over the past week, her behavior has been very bizarre. I'm not sure if it's dementia or her being a brat? I'm beginning to think she is bipolar. She goes from being depressed to a happy grandmother, but the majority of the behavior is depression & now she is showing anger towards us.

I'm not sure how more of this behavior I can take. I can't do or day anything to make her happy. It is getting so bad it is staring to have an impact on the kids. Last Saturday I reached a breaking point & called my sister who happens to live out of state. I pleaded with her for HELP!
Hell must have frozen over, because she & my niece would hit the road the next day to pick her up & take her off my hands for at least 2 weeks.

I'm not sure how long her "vacation" will last. After one night, she told my sister that she can only stay for a day & has to go home. So let the adventures in babysitting begin for someone else. In the mean time I will regroup, come up with a plan, & enjoy not having the anchor attached to me.

Still Unpacking

2010-06-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

We are in & still unpacking. Is moving a long process for everyone or is it just me? Here are some pictures of the house now that we are in.

Yesterday's Morning Storm Rolling In

2010-06-23T16:25:00.015-04:00

And of course, a turkey fight!

New House & New Neighbors

2010-06-20T16:29:00.013-04:00

Here it is. This is an actual picture of my new house. It is not the model as shown on previous posts. The yard was seeded last Thursday & now we wait for grass. We also have new neighbors. They have a very active social life. I don't know how they do it but they seem to greet us each & every day.

Miracles Do Happen

2010-06-09T13:37:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not but miracles do happen. Yesterday was our school districts annual Kennywood Picnic. For those of you not familiar with Kennywood (www.kennywood.com/), it is an amusement park located near Pittsburgh, PA.

As you wait in line for the ride, one always seems to observe the signs. Oh, you know what signs I'm talking about. "If you have a heart, neck, back condition or are pregnant you should not ride this ride." Well that's not me. What about the ones that say "Secure all loose article." This is the one I'm talking about.

Very aware of these signs, I was constantly checking my pocket for my cell phone. We rode many coasters without any problems, cell phone intact in my pocket. It wasn't until we rode the last ride of the night, the Racer. The Racer was always a favorite with my kids. Hubby & son always get in on train & my daughter & I get in to the opposing train (If you are not familiar with this ride, it is a coaster that has 2 trains that race).

Caught up in the moment, my husband insisted that we get the last seats. We buckled up, the safety bar locked, I checked my pocket to secure my phone & off we rode. Hands up, hair blowing & having a great time. We pulled in to the station being harassed that my daughter & I lost. It was then I did another phone check & my stomach dropped. Not from the ride but from my phone not in my pocket.

We checked the floor no where to be found. I felt between the cushions of the car, no luck. It was then I came to terms that it was gone. Shattered into pieces. Time for a new phone.

I began my search for a new phone today. Spoke to my husband about what new phone I would want. Continued to search on line when the home phone rang. Caller id showed Kennywood. Could it be? So I answered it. It was Kennywood, we have your cell phone, it was found this morning as we were testing the ride.

I immediately went to pick it up being that I live near by. Low & behold it was in one piece, no scratches or cracks. The only thing wrong, a dead battery. Unbelievable!

A New Chapter Begins

2010-06-08T10:24:00.002-04:00

It has been a roller coaster of emotions the past few days. We will be completing our move this weekend & saying good bye to our old home.

The old house was the house that I saved for & bought as a young single chick. Not long after that I married & started a family in it. Our family as experienced many ups & downs here. It is now time to move on to bigger & better things.

The Moving Process

2010-06-01T10:43:00.004-04:00

The day finally arrived! We closed back on May 10th. We haven't moved in completely, I think it would have been devastating to uproot the kids from their school with only a few weeks left this year.

The moving process has been slow. In a way I don't mind. It gives me time to organize how I want things arranged. So as of June 12. We should be in permanently. Can't wait!

This is a picture of the model home but ours is the same with the exception of the grass & landscaping. Right now there is only dirt in the front. And on rainy days, I have a pool. A pool of mud that is.

Smoking Baby

2010-05-27T19:17:00.002-04:00

I'm speechless.

Movie Quote Answer

2010-05-24T20:08:00.007-04:00

The answer to last weeks movie quote is:

Gone With the Wind

Movie Quote

2010-05-18T09:11:00.005-04:00

How well do you know your movies? Here is a quote. Write you guess in the comment section. Who knows, you may win a prize.

"As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they're not going to lick me! I'm going to live through this, and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again - no, nor any of my folks! If I have to lie, steal, cheat, or kill! As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again."

What I've Been Up To

2010-05-04T08:40:00.014-04:00

Just off the top of my head some things that I have been up to.

1. Fifth grade recycling project.

2. Borough Days Project (grade 3 project)-entails making a poster to be elected for mayor & writing a speech to be elected as mayor.

3. Junior Achievement.

4. Job Interview-waiting to hear when my second interview will be.

5. Preparing for the closing on our house-this will occur May 10, 2010.

6. The daily adventures in babysitting my aging mother. Every day seems to be the same thing but different. I can't even begin to explain.

7. The everyday mundane house wife responsibilities.

8. Preparing the current house for sale.

9. Third grade field trip tomorrow.

I Won

2010-05-01T21:25:00.001-04:00

The Kentucky Derby was wonderful this year. I went with my gut & bet on Super Saver. Well, let me just tell you that it paid off. I won $900.

Life Does Go Faster Than You Think

2010-04-30T13:35:00.005-04:00

Words to live by.

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

'She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on , was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it.

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said:

'Never save something for a special occasion.

Every day in your life is a special occasion'.

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.

I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.

I no longer keep anything.

I use crystal glasses every day...

I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words 'Someday...' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my dictionary.
;
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now....

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come..

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one...

Kentucky Derby 2010

2010-04-30T09:30:00.003-04:00

I have never been interested in horse races. That changed last year when my husband turned the pre-events leading up to the derby. I'm not sure if I got sucked into the hype or a fascination with over all training leading up to the event.

Last year we bet on Pioneer of the Nile & Dunkirk. But it was the jockey, Calvin Borel, who lead Mine That Bird to a victory. I had a gut feeling that we should have bet on him. Why I didn't go with my gut, I'm not sure.

This year I'm not sure who to bet on. Calvin is racing Super Saver this year. Can he do it again? If you have any input let me know. Do you place your bets on luck or stats? I would love to hear from you.

Take Your Child To Work Day 2010

2010-04-22T09:22:00.001-04:00

Spring Pictures

2010-04-20T08:36:00.005-04:00

The Face

2010-04-19T08:54:00.002-04:00

How We Met

2010-04-17T18:51:00.006-04:00

Have I ever told you how I met my husband? We met through the single ads in the newspaper. Guess what! I didn't place the ad. Turns out my mother placed it without my knowledge. We met for lunch on Saturday afternoon, dated for over two years, got engaged in Waikiki & it's been a wild ride ever since.

Feel Good Moment

2010-04-15T06:02:00.010-04:00

I had the opportunity of a life time. For three consecutive years in a row, I worked as the school nurse at the school my children attend. It started out just as a substitute position until the regular school nurse returned from a back injury. Turned out that I spent three years as the full time school nurse.

I always hoped that I could have a positive impact on just one child. Well that hope became reality. Yesterday, I was approached by a mother & girl scout leader. She informed my that the fifth grade girls wanted me to talk to them about the sensitive topic of puberty. The girls approached her with the request. Unfortunately do to time restraints & busy schedules, I was unable to do this for these girls. This is a moment that live on in my heart & mind forever.

Just Another Mundane Day

2010-04-13T09:33:00.006-04:00

Up at 5 am. Got shower. Had a cup of joe. Watched the news. Got dressed. Woke up the kids. Got breakfast ready. Pack lunches. Helped kids get dressed. Final check of back packs & out the door. Dropped kids off at school (we don't have busing). Came home & kissed hubby good-bye. Got mom her morning meds. Loaded dishwasher. Did some laundry. Got mom's clothes ready & helped her get ready for the shower. Cleaned up the kitchen. Got mom breakfast. Get ready for what ever bizarre behavior my mother throws my way.

Need I go on. This is a typical day in my house. I am so ready for a change. It is time to do some soul searching.

Help!

Why?

2010-03-29T08:33:00.006-04:00

I have a permanent scar on my heart. Just as it was healing the scab has been violently ripped open once again & it is bleeding profusely. My question is, "Why?" Why is God doing this?

Over the weekend my son's best friend lost his mother due to a year long illness. She was only forty years old. She was a wife & mother of three beautiful children. Why? Why was she taken so young? I am angry! Angry with God right now. Why would you take her away?

There is an eleven year old boy who's mom won't be there to see him go to the prom & graduate from high school. A young woman who's mother won't be there when she graduates in three years from college & help her pick out a wedding dress. What about the young man who's mother won't be there when he comes home from the service in two years.

Maybe I'm selfish. I just don't think that it is fair. There are drug addicts & crack whores that walk the face of the earth. Why? She was a devoted Catholic, CCD teacher. Why her God? Why?

Mothers, love & hug your children. Wives, love & make love to your husbands. Daughters, take care & respect your parents. Sisters, embrace your siblings. Aunts, reach out to your nieces & nephews. Live each & everyday as if it were your last for we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

God Bless you Maria. Your suffering is over. You will truly be missed.

Kitchen Almost Complete

2010-03-23T09:27:00.003-04:00

Moving right along. The hardwood floors to be installed this week. Still waiting for a closing date.

Great Walk Gone Bad

2010-03-18T11:44:00.009-04:00

Yesterday I dropped off my mom at physical therapy & had about an hour to kill. The sun was shining & the sky was blue & what clouds that existed were white (not the gray that we have gooten use to). I decided I was going to take a walk along the trail in the area. I have lived in the area for years & never had the time to explore the trail, so what better time than today. So off I went on the trail.

I enjoyed the cool sunny walk with the view of the river over my shoulder. My stress started to leave for some time. I came to the end of the gravel trail & had to take the sidewalk to get to the destination I had in mind. However, the plans changed as I started on the sidewalk. I glanced down & began to notice something on the sidewalk & walked around it. I continued, & began to see more of this "something". As I walked around this "something" I noticed more & more. At this point I became sick & turned around. The entire sidewalk was full of shit.

I don't think it was from the geese that frequent the area. It appeared to be dog shit. How hard is it to take a bag clean up the shit from your dog? I am a dog owner & that is just the first rule of thumb. I am not talking about one dog but multiple.

So if you are a dog owner & walk your dog on the sidewalk, please be kind & pick up after your dog.

Description of an Elderly Person

2010-03-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Recently I have come to the conclusion that the description of an elderly person is a cross between a toddler & a teen.

Toddlers often toddle around, still unsteady on their feet. They continue to need assistance of a parent, but somewhat independent. A teen is often moody, stubborn and thinks they know it all. They will do what they want, when they want. Teens don’t understand that their actions can cause consequences.

I am finding out more about the different seasonings of this generation the longer I am a member of the Sandwich Club. Each day there is a different spice or herb to add to your sandwich. Last weekend I could have used the herb of cannabis, for mom, to sedate her obsessive-compulsive bizarre episodes or for my husband & me. We had the “privilege” of cleaning out her house last weekend. Her house contained 60 some years of “collectibles”. Good grief, Charlie Brown.

2010 Prom Dresses

2010-03-01T08:00:00.010-05:00

So it's March. Spring SHOULD soon be in the air, one hopes. Prom season is just around the corner. So what are the latest fashions for 2010?

Tie dye & print, along with longer, full length are big this prom season. Prom Girl has every type of dress from sweet to sexy, short to long (http://www.promgirl.com/). They even have dresses under $100. Great for anyone a budget. I think they have a selection even I would let my daughter select from. This site is a mom approved site.

Happy Birthday Son

2010-02-24T05:47:00.005-05:00

Today, my son turns 11. Where does the time go? This is a picture I will cherish forever. He has never expressed disbelief about Santa. I think he may be humoring me knowing, it would break my heart.

Happy Birthday son & God bless you!
Love,
Mom & Dad

We Are The World

2010-02-19T09:25:00.004-05:00

As you may know, back in the 80's many celebrities band together to create the video We Are The World to aid in African famine relief. The video was extremely successful & left an impression in the hearts of many.

Last week a remake of the legendary video was made to benefit the people of Haiti. I love the concept of the celebrities coming together & remaking the video but I have mixed feeling about the remake.

What are your thoughts? Watch each video & vote for the video you like better.

Shaun White Rocks

2010-02-18T05:49:00.005-05:00

The snowboarding event at the Olympics last night were amazing. I held my breath when Shaun White took to the half pipe, praying that he wouldn't wipe out. Not that he would, but there is always that possibility that he could. Anyhow, he makes skateboarding look so easy. Congratulations to Shaun White on winning the gold.

Shaun, you ROCK!

There Is A God

2010-02-16T10:51:00.008-05:00

Just like, "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus." there is a God. School resumed yesterday for a full day & no 2 hour delay today. The kids where bummed, no delay. But I am ready to celebrate. I thought about dancing around the house naked. But I won't subject you to the thought of my pasty, stretch marked, out of shape body.

Why Can't I Go Out?

2010-02-09T10:46:00.005-05:00

Because you will get lost in the snow!

I Don't Think So

2010-02-07T13:06:00.008-05:00

Living on a dead end street SUCKS! We are always the last for everything. Since we are currently snowed in, I had to tell the hospital that we will not be having mom's surgery tomorrow. Not only are we snowed in, but they wanted us to be there at 5 am. Yeah right! Not with these cold teperatures & the risk of the roads being a complete sheet of ice. I don't think so.

Bitter Sweet

2010-01-29T11:56:00.005-05:00

Excited, offended, hopeful, annoyed, exhausted, rejuvenated, angry, cautious, on the edge, ecstatic, & finally sadden. These are the feelings & emotions that have ran through my body over the past week.

I received an offer on my mom’s house & that is when it all began. The excitement of the house could finally be sold (although it has not been on the market too long).

I am offended with the initial offer.

I am hopeful that there is a counter offer.

I am annoyed with the nit picking.

I am exhausted with the negotiations & wording of the contract.

I am Rejuvenated with the possibility that we can get a better offer, that is if we add some extra TLC.

I am angry with the neighbors & their cruel words & ignorant actions.

I am cautious when the buyer is bringing her father to look over the house.

I am on the edge that the father will find something with the house as he does his own inspection while we are present.

I become ecstatic when a reasonable offer is made.

Suddenly, I was overcome with the emotion of sadness. My childhood home is sold. There are so many memories. It is all bitter sweet. My mom will be living with us in our new home & making new memories with my family & me.

Banana Nut Muffins

2010-01-28T13:22:00.004-05:00

Been a little busy over the past few days. I had numerous ripe bananas that I had to use up. And as a result, I made muffins. You know the muffins are delicious when even the pickiest eaters want more.

Happy Birthday

2010-01-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

She's 9 today. Where does the time go?

January Products

2010-01-26T06:05:00.005-05:00

It is a new year & I decided to start something new. Each month I decided to try a new product. This month I decided to try Neutrogena Facial Products & L'Oreal.

Fresh Foaming Cleanser

Pore Refining Toner

Oil Free Moisture

The Sandwich Club

2010-01-21T05:48:00.008-05:00

Have you heard about the new club? It’s called Sandwich Club. At this point you are probably thinking along the lines of Subway or Panera. Well not really, so I will tell you about my membership & my upgraded status on December 15, 2009.
The Sandwich Generation is those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents. Your children & aging parents are the slices of bread & you are the piece of meat in the center (my choice of meat would be turkey).

There are three different levels:
Traditional: those sandwiched between aging parents who need care and/or help and their own children.

Club Sandwich: those in their 50s or 60s sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren or those in their 30s and 40s, with young children, aging parents and grandparents.(Term coined by Carol Abaya)

Open Faced: anyone else involved in elder care. (Term coined by Carol Abaya)

My current status is the Club Sandwich; it is an upgrade from the Traditional as of December 15, 2009. This is when my husband & I opened our home to my mother. She has been through hell over the past 6-7 months. It all started with a fall back in June. Since then she had been in & out of the hospital, rehab & then home.

The idea of her to live alone failed. She had fallen again in September & landed right back in the hospital. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Her memory was very poor & couldn’t remember basic things like the soap dispenser. It was very heart breaking. Physically, she had progressed in strides.

The Healthcare Providers at the Rehab facility strongly recommended that she not live alone. What am I to do? My siblings are of no help. I really don’t have the room at my house. I had no choice & went against all of my promises to myself, not to place my parents in a nursing home or assisted living. So there it was, the decision that I never expected to make. I placed my mother in assisted living. It was a battle with her; all she wanted to do is go home. That obviously wasn’t going to happen.

Mom was discharged from rehab & off to assisted living. It took some time to adjust & she finally got use to it, although in her mind she wanted to go home. That is home to her house. She had to be brought back to reality many times. Reality is probably not a good word to use when you talk about someone with dementia. We finally came to an agreement. When we find a bigger house, my mom will live with us. That was when we turned up the heat to find a new house.

Then all of a sudden the cards all fell into place, the clouds opened up, and the seas have parted. We found the most amazing lot. It was everything we wanted.

The papers were signed & we made the decision to move mom in to our home with us for the next few months until the house is built. It is pretty expensive for assisted living (about $2,300 /month or so). We made some temporary adjustments at our home & moved her in with us just before Christmas. Her Christmas wish came true, she was home for Christmas.

So now I am a proud member of the Sandwich Club. Life has been very interesting living with mom. There are days when she has her moments, like asking the same question about five times, but we as a family have learned to deal with it.

Hot Pants

2010-01-20T10:01:00.003-05:00

I always have a difficult time getting my kids up & going in the mornings. I found a great way to get them dressed on these cold winter mornings. I simply throw their jeans in the dryer for approximately five minutes & voila! warm, cozy jeans. Another option that I also use is the iron. I quickly iron the jeans & the kids get dressed in a snap. They HATE cold jeans. Try it & let me know what you think.

A Blast from the Past

2010-01-12T12:32:00.006-05:00

Does this look familiar? Jiffy Pop popcorn was big when I was a kid. I didn't think that they made it anymore, now that we have the option of microwave popcorn. Well it still exists. As I was checking out at Walmart today, the women in front of me was buying it. Who would have thought?

Fun in the Snow

2010-01-09T15:41:00.008-05:00

Winter Pictures

2010-01-07T09:27:00.013-05:00

Construction Begins This Week

2010-01-03T14:21:00.002-05:00

Every thing is a go. Construction begins this week.

C is For Cookie

2009-12-23T09:35:00.006-05:00

Cookie mix -$ 2.50
Royal Icing -$ 7.50
Sprinkles -$ 5.00
Christmas memory- Priceless

My daughter had a blast decorating these cookies. What a wonderful Christmas memory. The royal icing was left over from the Holiday Houses that were made in school.

Duggar Baby

2009-12-11T12:12:00.004-05:00

Wow! Baby # 19 came yesterday for the Duggar family. The baby was born via emergency C section. Baby Josie weighs only 1 pound. Keep them in your prayers.
http://www.parentdish.com/2009/12/11/michelle-duggar-delivers-baby-19-via-emergency-c-section/?icid=blogtab1

Blue Berry Muffins

2009-12-08T19:15:00.004-05:00

Ingredients:

· 2-3 tablespoons butter
· ¼ cup of Crisco
· 2 eggs
· 1/3 cup water
· 1 capful of vanilla
· 1 ½ cup of blueberries
· 1 cup of sugar
· 1 cup of Jiffy mix
· 1 cup of flour
· Muffin tins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together Crisco & butter.

Add the following ingredients to butter mixture & mix well:

· 2 eggs
· 1/3 cup water
· 1 capful of vanilla
· 1 ½ cup of blueberries

Mix all dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.

· 1 cup of sugar
· 1 cup of Jiffy mix
· 1 cup of flour
· ½ tsp Baking powder
· ½ tsp baking soda

Slowly add dry ingredients to egg & butter mixture & beat well.

Pour batter into paper muffin tins about ¾ full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees until top is brown.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-06T12:27:00.002-05:00

Praying For Approval

2009-11-30T10:56:00.003-05:00

We have been looking at homes off & on for the past five years. As of two weeks ago, we decided to build. Now we just sit back, pray & wait for the mortage to be approved.

Wow It's October

2009-10-13T16:46:00.004-04:00

Wow it's October, and I realized that I haven't blogged since August. Well I have been very busy. My mom has been in & out of the hospital. Therefore, I have been very busy trying to figure things out about what to do with her & lifestyle. I finally made the decision to place her in assisted living as of Friday. She thinks she is capable of living alone in her home. But when you have fallen 4 times since June I think it is time for the child to become the parent & the parent is now the child.

Thrifty Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009

2009-08-27T19:54:00.004-04:00

Nice find at Walmart today. Palmolive dishwashing soap for a small cost of $1.00.

Girls Night Out & Homemade Pizza

2009-07-31T22:21:00.012-04:00

A few weeks ago the boys went out of town. My daughter & I had a girls night out. We started our evening with make your own mini pizza. We then we took the dog to Pet Smart for a new leash.

Make your own pizza:
Ingredients:
1. Pocketless pitas
2. Pizza sauce of choice
3. Mozzarella & Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
4. Topping of your choice
5. Italian herbs

Prepare:
In a frying pan, brown pocketless pita on both sides. Spread sauce to pita. Sprinkle the cheese on tops of sauce. Add toppings. Cook in pan until cheese melts. You may want to use a lid to cover pan to quicken the melting process.

From My Garden

2009-07-26T16:17:00.012-04:00

I planted lavender years ago & wasn't successful. Last year I tried again & much to my surprise it grew back this spring. In my garden this year I have tomato, cabbage & cucumbers. My garden is like the economy this year. I am not having much luck between the groundhog, deer, perhaps some blight & very cool nights. So far, I have only had one edible tomato. The cucumber are very slow to grow. There are about three decent ones in the garden as of today. These pictures were from about two weeks ago. Hopefully with some extra TLC & some homemade solutions, my garden will make a come back.

Life Is Too Short

2009-07-21T08:07:00.009-04:00

I received this as an email & just had to share.

I don't mind if you write your name in the dust at my house; just don't date it!

LADIES!!!
Remember...a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.

'A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.'

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over. Finally I realized one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home.

They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun.

If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice.

Life is short. Enjoy it!

Dust if you must ....... but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . . . with shrimp to eat, rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music, to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must , but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. . . And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!

Disney Vacation Day 3 & 4

2009-07-14T18:20:00.031-04:00

Day three of our trip we decided to take a break from the ride parks & hit Typhoon Lagoon. My husband took the kids the day after they arrived. They just loved it & couldn't wait to take me. It was very, very hot & the water felt great. The large wave pool gets 2 thumbs up. And yes, I have completely lost my mind by posting a picture of me in a bathing suit.

Ice cream in a bucket.

Can't leave the park without getting one.

On day 4, we cruised on over to Hollywood Studios. The American Idol Experience was very cool. My daughter is a big fan of American Idol & absolutely loved it.

The Judges

The Contestants

Honey I Shrunk the Kids

Disney 2009: Days 1 & 2

2009-07-13T21:27:00.021-04:00

This is my day 1 & 2 of my vacation. This was actually day 3 & 4 for the hubby & kids. I arrived at Port Orleans Riverside around 1:30 pm. I was completely exhausted physically & mentally. I didn't want to let the kids & hubby down, so I pulled myself together & off to Magic Kingdom we went. We stayed for a few hours but the look on my daughter's face when she saw the castle was priceless. It all happend so fast that I didn't get a picture, but I have the image in my mind that will live forever! The next day we were off to Epcot. More pictures to follow.

Disney 2009

2009-07-07T08:57:00.009-04:00

These pictures were all taken by my family prior to my arrival. Oh how it broke my heart not being there.

Happy Birthday USA

2009-07-04T08:28:00.008-04:00

Happy Birthday America

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

Have a happy & safe 4th of July. God bless America.

Disney Pictures

2009-07-02T10:18:00.007-04:00

I can't describe the look on my daughter's face when she saw the castle for the first time.

A Childhood Dream Comes True

2009-07-01T10:09:00.007-04:00

When I was about my daughter's age, I went to Magic Kingdom for my first time. We spent only spent one day at Magic Kingdom & I do mean a day. I remember asking to stay & watch the parade & fireworks but the answer was "another time". I left some what disappointed. When we went this year, I told my husband "I have only one request on this trip & that is we see the night parade & fireworks." What a nice little surprise to see Tinkerbell come down from the castle.

Tragic Kingdom Finally Magic Kingdom

2009-06-30T15:28:00.007-04:00

My Tragic Kingdom finally turned back to Magic Kingdom. If you read my previous posts, you know about the horrible start to my Disney vacation (if you didn't read the posts, shame on you-just kidding). My vacation actually has a happy ending. The following day, my mother had surgery on that broken hip & all went well. I arranged for a fight the next day & landed at the Orlando Airport round 12 pm Sunday. My mother in law promised my that she would visit my mother frequently & that she did. Mom is currently in a local nursing home for rehab. Things are slowly looking up.

Reunited at last!

Why Magic Kingdom Became Tragic Kingdom Part 4

2009-06-28T08:47:00.023-04:00

So as Maggie darted passed my rescue crew & toward the main road, my heart sank. I thought she will not be coming back. I was convinced that I would find her lifeless body on the main road. I did not give up, no did my rescue crew. We then expanded our search to larger areas. I even searched my own street in hopes that she would find her way back home. No luck. As my rescue crew & I grew tired of combing the streets, we decided to take a break. Off to the hospital I went.

I arrived at the hospital to find out that my mom broke her hip & will require surgery. That's just great. Now what? I have no emotional support with my husband & children in Florida. I wrestled with the thought of calling my sister in Virginia. I prayed to God for strength. I made the decision to call & left a massage explaining in detail the situation. She did return a message responding, I don't know what to tell you. Do you want my to come up? Yeah, I know to others this would be a no brainer, but my family is very dysfunctional. I shouldn't have to tell a 53 year old woman what to do. At this point I just wanted to scream in anger.

I finally spoke to her & she decided that she would leave the next morning to come home. Thank you, Lord. I thought that at least if she is here, I can catch a flight out tomorrow after her surgery.

As far as my mom's condition, she was heavily sedated for the pain & was going to be transferred to a med/surg floor. At this point, I felt helpless & I couldn't do anything else for her. She was stable & in good hands. I made the decision to leave & go look for the dog once again.

It was now about 4 pm on Friday. My husband called for an update after a successful arrival in Florida. We discussed the plan that I would stay until after the surgery & to make another attempt to find the damn dog. If all goes well with the surgery, I would leave for Florida on Sunday. I was so torn about the whole decision but we planned this trip months ago & my sister at this point was coming in.

I returned to my mom's house for one final attempt to find Maggie. I placed all of her blankets, toys & food on the porch in hopes that she would smell them & find her way back to my mom's.

I grabbed a bag of treats & walked the neighborhood about 3 times calling her name & shaking the bag of treats. No luck. As I stopped to talk to a neighbor, another neighbor asked if I found the dog. No I replied. She then said she saw her crossing another main road by the golf course. I then jumped in my car & off I went. I had that sick feeling once again that I would find her body on the road.

I stopped the at the golf course to inquire about the dog. No reports of a dog on the course. The man was very nice & told me that he would send out a few guys to look for the dog. I then searched the areas that would surround the golf course. My optimism at this point was turning very grave. I can't tell you the vast amount of woods that surround the golf coarse. I touched base with my sister & she changed her plans. She is not coming. She forgot that she has 3 doctors appointments next week with specialists & it would take 6 months to get another appointment. Go figure.

My mother in law called & said that she would return to help look for the dog before the sun goes down. I searched & searched. Reality set in. I began to tell myself that there is no way in hell that I will find this dog. How do I tell my daughter that her dog is gone & grandma's condition is fragile. I drove the outlying streets near the golf course & stopped & asked a few gentilemen if they saw the dog. No luck. One of the men suggested I put a sign up in the local store/gas station. At that moment a light bulb went off. I decided to stop at hte store & ask. So off I went.

I spoke to the gas attendant & he said that he saw the little brown dog with the red leash dart down the main road about 45 minutes ago (Maggie is now know as the little brown dog with the red leash). I then called a friend that lived on the main road & asked if she saw her at some point today. She replied no, but offered to come out & help look. I parked the car on a side street & began to walk to main road & look near an open field. I crossed the main road (my house is just behind this main road) & asked the neighbor if she saw the Maggie. Shse replied, no.

I heard barking. I called again & listened. I didn't get my hopes up because the neighgbor that lives near me has the same bread. I called again. I heard a bark. I continued to call & the bark became more familiar. I ran through the yards until I reached my house. I walked up the drive toward the barking. How to my surprise do I find sitting on my back porch, Maggie. Barking at the door waiting to be let in the house. My heart at his point filled with joy.

Why Magic Kingdom Became Tragic Kingdom Part 3

2009-06-27T07:46:00.018-04:00

Yes, I kissed my husband & kids good bye with tears in my eyes. I got back in the SUV & headed for the Parkway. It was a lonely trip. So many thoughts swirling around in my mind.

I reached my mom's street & began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I questioned the neighbors that live around my mom. They told me that she fell & couldn't get up. She called for help, two of the neighbors came running & the ambulance was called. She didn't hit her head so that was a positive outlook.

What about the dog? Has anyone seen the dog? The next door neighbor & his wife replied, we tried to catch her but she wouldn't come, she is so fast. I then started my search for my dog. I walked numerous times around the plan calling her name "Maggie". No luck. My in laws arrived to help. I thought for sure that Maggie would show up with my mother in law calling for her. Maggie absolutely LOVES her. No luck. During this time I called the ER & spoke to the nurse. I was told that they were waiting for the doctor to read the x ray & they would call me back with the results. And the search continued.

After about an hour, I had several volunteers helping me look for Maggie. Finally, I glimmer of hope. I asked a man walking his dog if he saw a little brown dog. He responded, the one with the red leash? YES, YES! that's the one. I just saw her around the bend by the playground. WONDERFUL! Mission accomplished. Now I can go to the hospital, one less worry.

I ran down the street ( in my backless sandals) & yelled (huffing & puffing) to the neighbor that she was spotted around the other side of the neighborhood. She & her girls hopped in her car, went one way & I the other. I saw Maggie running up the street, like a gazelle, toward my car. My thoughts were, she's alive. I was feeling some relief. I threw the car into park, nearly dropping the transmission & got out to get her. I called for her but she ran the other way. Poor thing, so many strange people calling & chasing her. I think she was overwhelmed & scared. Who wouldn't be. She darted past my rescue crew & head toward the main road. My glimmer of hope just began to fade away.

To Be Continued........

Why Magic Kingdom Became Tragic Kingdom Part 2

2009-06-26T09:51:00.012-04:00

So I left off with the phone call from my childhood friend telling me that my mom fell & that the ambulance was called. At this point she didn't know any other details & that she would call her dad for details. After I hung up the phone my husband said "Just calm down, she probably just has some scrapes & cuts. Let's just get to the airport & we will figure out what we should do."

Five minutes had gone by & I didn't hear from my friend. So, I called her back. She didn't know anything more. I asked "What about our dog? She was watching our dog. Do you know if the dog was in the house?" She replied, "I'm not sure." I called her dad & asked for details. He told me your mom fell outside on the driveway & was calling for help, she couldn't get up. He call the ambulance & they were transporting her to the hospital. "She was watching our dog. Do you know where the dog is?" The neighbor replied, "Is it the brown dog with the red leash?" YES! I said. "Everyone in the neighborhood has been trying to catch her." he responded.

I was frantic! My mother probably broke her hip & my dog is missing. What do I do. My husband at this point was also crazy. I called my mother in law. Frantically crying, I explained scene. She suggested that I get on the plane & that she would look for the dog. I couldn't take that advise. She lives an hour away & time was precious. Someone has to help this poor little dog. My daughter will be in therapy if I don't find this dog. Mom was at least at the hospital & we were waiting on x ray results.

After months of planning this great trip, the plans are now unraveling. My husband said that I should go home & find out what is going on with both my mom & dog. "I'll drop the kids & myself off at the extended stay parking place & then you go home. I'll talk to the airlines about a medical emergency & you call me when you know something. It's stupid for all of us to cancel the trip. You can meet us there later." We did just that. I sobbed & kissed them all good bye. They departed for the airport as I departed into the twilight zone of hell.

To Be Continued......

Why Magic Kingdom Became Tragic Kingdom Part 1

2009-06-25T08:47:00.009-04:00

This year my husband & I made the decision instead of a beach vacation, we would go to Disney. We felt that the kids are now old enough, no strollers to push, they can probably handle the heat better than an infant or toddler & they are old enough to remember this trip the rest of their lives. Once you read about my experience, you will agree that remembering this trip is an understatement. So get your Kleenex or Puffs (if you prefer) & get ready for a good cry.

March 2009: We booked our Disney trip after much research. AAA had the best deal over all.

May 2009: The excitement begins to build about the trip & the count down began. Start to lake our list of things we need to take & shop for new clothes.

June 9, 2009: Schools out for the summer & the packing begins.

June 10, 2009: My last day of work for the summer. Let the final push to pack begin.

June 11, 2009: Shop for last minute items, get hair cut, pedicure & get the dog extra supplies.

8:3o pm-Take dog to mom's house. (She has agreed to watch the dog while we are gone.) Got everyone oriented to each other, that is mom to dog & dog to house.

9:30 pm- Say good bye & leave.

June 12, 2009:

8:00 am-Stop by mom's house with additional info about dog & flight #'s, where we are staying etc..... One final good bye to the dog & we are off.

8:10 am-Get on the Parkway East & we are off to the airport.

8:17 am-Cell phone rings. Why is the school calling? Answer phone, it is a friend that works at the school & has my cell #. My stomach is instantly sick. She tells me that me mom fell on the driveway & that the neighbors have called the ambulance....

Part Two to follow.

Magic Kingdom Turns to Tragic Kingdom

2009-06-24T10:38:00.008-04:00

Our long awaited trip to Disney went from these expectations,

to doom & gloom. Details to follow when I get my life in order.

Preparing For Vacation

2009-06-06T08:23:00.006-04:00

Schools out, or in our case just about out. That only means one thing in our family, beach trip. In the past have gone to Ocean City but the excitement wore off & the crowd tends to be high school & college students. Too wild for a family trip so we now head to Myrtle Beach. We love it.

I recommend to friends to stay at the Breakers (http://www.breakers.com/ ). They have several pools & a lazy river & pool side service (the ones that all adults love). This year we are heading to Disney for our vacation but hope to get a great deal at some point to return to Myrtle for a long weekend.

The preparation for any beach trip can be crazy. I am constantly making a list of what we need to pack. So here is a list for you to use as a guide to prepare for your next beach trip.

Vacation List:
Medication
Facial soap
Razor
Soap
Shaving cream
Shampoo
Conditioner
Brush & comb
Deodorant
Mousse
Curling Iron
Facial creams
Make up
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Tweezers
Contact lenses case
Eye glasses
Saline
Sun glasses
Shorts
Tops
Bras
Underwear
Bathing suit
Sun screen
Lotion
Towels
Blanket
Umbrella
Boogie boards
Hair clips
Pony tail holders
Kid activities for the car
DS & games
DVD players
Sand toys
Flip flops
Sandals & flip flops
Tennis shoes
Socks
Baby Powder
Snacks & drinks

Have a fun & safe trip this summer.

For Real or For Ratings

2009-06-01T05:43:00.004-04:00

Jon & Kate plus 8 have been in the media like crazy lately. I'm not sure what my thoughts are on the Gosselin family. If it were me, I would have lost my mind a long, long time ago. Do you think the hype is for ratings or is it reality? I want to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment.