In My Life

One of my very favorite songs is "In My Life." This time of year always gets me thinking of the past, of "people, places and things that went before." So, I think the next few posts may be about some of those things. Today's post is about Dogs I Have Known and Loved.

1. Smokey - On the Christmas Eve that I was either 3 or 4, we lived in Valley Stream, NY and my dad worked for Coca-Cola in Long Island City. On that day's drive into work, he watched a car ahead of him slow down and toss a bundle out of the car. He stopped and found a black puppy inside the bundle. He brought it into work with him and, with the help of several co-workers, he got the dog bathed and presentable to bring home. That night, to our amazement, my dad came in with this little guy with a big red bow around his neck. We were all shocked, including my mom, who had no idea that my dad was bringing this new family member home. He was black as smoke, hence his name.

2. Laffy My aunt had gotten a miniature poodle she called Nappy, which was short for Napoleon. I loved that dog and couldn't wait to visit them so I could play with Nappy. Smokey had passed away, so we were dog-less. The breeder where my aunt had gotten Nappy was having another litter, so we adopted Laffy, the name I gave him, which, in keeping with the French General's theme, was short for Lafayette. Although he was a gift for me, he really became my mother's dog. After my mom died, Laffy became a different dog. He would lie on the bed on my mother's side all day and couldn't be budged without a fight.

3. Tinker This dog was part of the package when I married my first husband. Tinker was a Weimeraner. He was a great dog, very smart with a gentle disposition. However, the marriage didn't last very long and when it was "bye-bye hubby" time, it was "bye-bye Tinker" too.

4. Patrick - After Smokey died, I asked my parents if I could have an Old English Sheepdog. I had seen Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," (the original one, not the re-make, where they used a bearded collie instead of an OES; totally unacceptable. There is only one dog that can lay claim to being the Shaggy Dog and that is the OES). But, no way. They're too big, too slobber-y, too hairy. So, now, being an independent, self-sufficient woman, I finally got my first OES. Don't ask me why I named him Patrick. I just always said that, when I get my sheepdog, his name would be Patrick. And he was everything you expect a sheepdog to be, big, goofy, intelligent, friendly (sometimes to a fault). One thing about this breed, wherever you go with them, people smile. I tell you, if you're looking to meet people, find an Old English and take him out somewhere. They are a people magnet.

5. Chloe - I stopped by my local Petsmart for dog food for Patrick and they were having an Adopt-A-Pet Day for a local, no-kill shelter. I went for dog food and came home with Chloe, a 14 month old Briard.
At first she was very shy, but within a few months, she became the Princess and took over the position of alpha dog from Patrick. (Sheepdogs tend to be wussy, in the first place, and he was almost 14 years old, so he really didn't give a shit, at that point). Briards are very intelligent and can be quite domineering, even of their owners, if not trained. I discovered this first hand and hired a trainer for ME, so I could learn how to handle her. She turned out to be a wonderful pet and my best girlfriend.

6. Bailey - Patrick passed away about 6 months after Chloe joined us and she was the solo dog for about 6 months, when I saw an ad in the local paper about a litter of OES puppies for sale. How could I resist? So, that's when Bailey entered my life and is, as I write this, laying on his bed on the floor next to me, both of us very happy to be here to see the new year in together, along with the LSH.

A HAPPY, HEALTHY, & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

Last Minute Shopping

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I just found a shop on the web that has the most unique and quirky things. These are a few on my wishlist ( I wanted to just show the pix, but couldn't figure out how):

Dying to take a shower??? Then this is for you.
UncommonGoods

Where should I hang this?
UncommonGoods

I'm definitely getting this:
UncommonGoods

Send a message when that new guy (or girl) comes by to pick you up:
UncommonGoods

Now, THIS is for the guy who has everything:
UncommonGoods

I think Donna, True Heart Girl In Jersey, might like this:
UncommonGoods

For all you aspiring writers:
UncommonGoods

You have male:
UncommonGoods

They say this is their #2 best seller:
UncommonGoods

Hey, PITC, does he have this one?
UncommonGoods

This one's for Otin:
UncommonGoods

For your favorite teacher (or student):
UncommonGoods

A girl can never have too many shoes (and cheese):
UncommonGoods

And, finally, the "WTF" gift:
UncommonGoods

The Money Pit

I enjoyed this film when it was first released, mainly because of Tom Hanks. Watching he and Shelley Long (whatever happened to her?) attempt to "improve" their home was fun, but do you know what I've discovered? It's not quite as much fun in real life.

Here's how it starts. The LSH & I agree that we need to replace ALL the windows, 12 in all, including two picture windows, plus a sliding glass door. We had some money left from a home equity loan we took out last year to replace the roof and there's a $1500 tax incentive to install energy efficient windows. We had a few contractors come over to give us their sales pitch and estimates. We picked our guy


and sat down to look at windows. After much discussion, we decided in some rooms to replace two windows with one larger and to move some windows. Well, here's where it begins. If we're doing all that, we may as well get all new siding. O-kay.

The day comes and the crew starts ripping off the old siding and what do they find??? Termites. Great. Now we need to get an exterminator in


Then, we needed to get an electrician in to move something or other; I forget what and why.


We left for vacation right in the middle of all this. We told the guys that we expected to find a bus in front of the house when we returned, so we could have that whole Extreme Makeover experience.


Unfortunately, it didn't quite happen that way. When we opened the door upon returning, I honestly just stood there, not prepared for what I was seeing.


I admit, they weren't done yet. The living room (where they had also repaired the cathedral ceiling) was torn apart, furniture draped in old sheets, dust EVERYWHERE, and my dog, lying in the middle of this, with a pile of dog s*** next to him, so happy to see us. AND, it was 1:45AM (as in the morning).

Now, I admit, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to all this home improving. I suppose if I was, I would have realized that, with all the changes we made regarding the size and placement of the windows, new sheetrock had to be installed and EVERY room now needs to be painted.

Ok, time for a deep breath. I can handle this. Just think how nice it will look when it's all done.


So, the next morning, I'm having my coffee, gazing out of my brand new large kitchen window when I thought I'd go online to see what we will need to submit when we file our taxes to take advantage of the $1500 tax credit. I find the site, detailing the eligibility requirements, one of which was that the windows have a "Solar Heat Gain Coefficient" of 0.30 or less. Sounds good. I mean, we bought Andersen windows and the installer said all Andersen windows qualify. I look up at the window, which still has all its stickers on and see a "SHGC" of 0.32. WTF?? I jump up and, like a crazy lady with PMS



I run to all the other windows to find the same thing. The LSH called the guy immediately, who expressed disbelief at what he was being told. He said the Andersen people had said that all their windows meet the government standards. It turns out that that was true.....until June, when the government changed the standards. So, right now, we still owe one more payment and, if this can't be sorted out, that payment is going to be minus $1500.

Tis The Season

A few posts back, I related a story about some diners in a Philadelphia restaurant picked up the tab for another table's meals and how it continued throughout the day. Well, I had an unexpected opportunity to do something similar the other day.
Thursday morning I stopped at the local Quik-Chek on my way to work to get a White Chocolate Mint cocoa. It's not something I do regularly, but, with the snow on the ground and the chill in the air, put me in the mood.
There was a man in line in front of me, buying a coffee and paper, paying with a credit or debit card. The cashier ran it through, but it came back declined. The guy started checking his pockets for cash, but came up empty. He started to head outside to see if he had any money in his car. I thought "oh, a perfect "Pay It Forward" opportunity" and told him I'd take care of it. Of course, he protested, saying it wasn't necessary. I said I knew that, but I wanted to and wished him a Merry Christmas.
It wasn't much, just a coffee and paper, but it was a good way to start the day. I highly recommend it.

Good Will Toward Men

True story.

Last Saturday, our flight home from Miami was cancelled. How one handles this news upon reaching the departure gate, I believe, reveals much about a person. Upon hearing the news from a fellow passenger, I responded as I usually do, when hearing news I don't like: "You're kidding, right?" Why a total stranger would suddenly decide to play with my head and lie about our flight status didn't occur to me. I was just hoping he had a cruel sense of humor. But, no. He was actually a very nice, honest guy just passing on the bad news. So I got in line with the rest of the airport's version of the cast of "Lost" to find another option home, while the LSH sat because of a recent leg injury.
I was talking with a few fellow strandees when we hear loud words coming from the head of the line. I turned to see a large man throw back his fist and punch out a woman, totally landing her flat out on the floor. Well, that got all the testosterone in the immediate area heated up, causing many of the males to descend on this guy, yelling "Hey, buddy! You can't hit a woman!" and such. Now there's more yelling and shoving and then, suddenly, the PA system comes on and, over all this mayhem, we hear:



I loved it.

Anyway, the real story was that, after waiting what seemed to be forever, the daughter of the woman that was in front of this guy and his wife, invited about 6 other people to join them in line. The guy's wife started to say that they needed to wait in line and the DAUGHTER (maybe 20 years old), raised HER fist to punch the wife out, the husband saw this and got his punch in first. The cops came, took statements, nobody pressed any charges and that was that.

Of course, this show was hard to miss. A man waiting for another flight at the next gate came over and asked what was going on. When he heard the story, he asked "so, where's this flight heading anyway?" When he was told "Newark," he responded "Oh, Jersey. It figures." Thanks, TV Housewives and Guidos, for helping to keep the stereotype of Jersey alive and well to the rest of the world.

Catch-Up Time

I've been away awhile, so I thought this would be a good time to catch-up (ketchup/catch-up. Get it?? Ha-ha. Or, in deference to the season, should I say "Ho-Ho?").

Thanks to those of you inquiring about my health. After a slew of tests, the medical community can definitely say that I'm suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, to be exact, which is the medical community's way of saying that they have no idea what is causing it, but if they use a fancy word like "idiopathic", they can still charge exorbitant fees. I have my own theory as to what's behind this which I may share with you in the future. But, for now, the best I can do is grin and bear it.

The cruise did not disappoint. We just chilled out in the Caribbean heat, doing only what we wanted to do or do nothing, which is what i wanted to do most of the time. I only disembarked (that's boat talk for "got off") the ship once, on Monday, when we were at Samana in the Dominican Republic to swim with the sea lions.



Now, I admit, this is not us. We have some pix on CD which I'm too lazy to find right now, but, you get the idea. Sea lions are very cool. I'd say they're kind of like an aquatic dog. It was a lot of fun. The beach there was also gorgeous. The LSH was approached by a local and asked if he wanted to score some ganja. Now, if you know him, you realize how truly funny this is. He was baffled and asked me several times why I thought this guy approached him. I had no idea, other than this bro had poor character judgment.

I did not disembark again until they made me on Saturday when we were back in Miami. At the pool, in the shade,there were some double width wicker chaises with soft pads and pillows. That's pretty much we I spent my cruise, armed with a good book, crossword puzzles, and a waiter who knew when it was time for a refill. However, if you want to get drunk while you're on a cruise, be sure to get a home equity loan before you go. Pina coladas $9.99. They had a drink called Cool Runnings, served in a pineapple. It was delish, but at $11.99 a pop, I had to limit my intake.

I played bingo once, lured by the chance to win a free cruise for two. I didn't win that, but I did walk out of there $200 richer. I-20 is now my favorite number.

Of course, a lot of time was spent eating. I'd been dreaming about these chocolate croissants they served at breakfast last year. And, thank God, they still had them. On the morning we returned to Miami, I managed to smuggle some extras out in a paper napkin. Tacky, I know. But, they were sooooo good!

We were returned back to reality a bit too abruptly, when we got to the gate for our 12:10PM departure flight and found out it was cancelled. We were re-booked on an 8:50PM flight and didn't walk into the house until 1:30AM. But I got a big, wet, warm welcome home from Bailey (affectionately known as "The B"), always the best part of coming home.

Pay It Forward For Real

We're back, safe & fairly sound, from our cruise. It was as wonderful as we expected. Very relaxing and laid-back. I'll post more about it in the next few days, but, because I'm short on time tonight, I just wanted to share this story that caught my eye. I just love these kind of tales!

Gone Sailing

I really wanted to post before we leave for the cruise, but I just don't have time. I may Tweet now and then, if I put down my pinacolada long enough to text. So, Bon Voyage, all.

Later.

PS. I also want to thank all of you who continue to stop by to see if I've posted. I appreciate your interest and will work on being a better blogger when I return from this much needed getaway!

Post Thanksgiving Thanks

My thoughts exactly.

However, because I've generally been in a foul mood for the past week or so, I thought I should make an extra effort to think about what I'm grateful for right now. I'm a day late, but, I suppose, it's never too late to be thankful for:

My husband, the LSH*, although, currently he's on my s*** list. Long story, but I believe, due to the drama he has created, I can now be considered the LSW*. But, I love you, sweetie. For better or worse.
Grateful for my brother, Tom, who is always "there" for me, through the good and not so good.
Grateful for "the girls", my friends from childhood, who are always there to lend an ear or a hand. And, of course, make me laugh my ass off (unfortunately, not literally).
Grateful that I still have my job, although they're killing me, with too many responsibilities and the stress that comes along with that. But we need that paycheck, even without a raise this year.
Grateful that, at this time exactly a week from today, I'll be spending the night in warm Miami and on Saturday, board my luxury cruise ship to tropical ports beyond. I'm purposely using the pronouns "I" and "my" because not really sure if the LSH will be able to make it (see first item on list).
Just finished watching the Paul McCartney@Citifield special that was on last night. I'm grateful for those Beatle memories and that I was able to attend the Citifield show last July.
Grateful that I was able to re-connect with so many great people from my high school graduation class at our recent reunion and we have Facebook to continue to keep in touch.
Grateful that, although the doctors' still haven't been able to figure out what is causing my neuropathy, I now know that I DON'T have diabetes, MS, Lyme's Disease, lupus and small-cell lung cancer. Now, if they can only find out what I DO have that's causing this.
Grateful that I was born in America, that we have a roof over a heads and food in the pantry and clothes in the closet.
Speaking of closets, I'm grateful that I finally got around to cleaning my closet out today and getting a bit more organized. I actually got these things. Although this is the online site, you can buy them in many stores and save the shipping. They do actually work, although they are plastic. Wood would look nicer, but then, they wouldn't cost $19.99.
Grateful that my buddy, Bailey, my 13 1/2 year old Old English Sheepdog, is still with me and is currently sleeping peacefully at my feet.

There are many other things I'm grateful for, but these are at the top of the list. It's not really a bad idea, doing this grateful thing. I'll have to remember to do this more often.

*LSH - long suffering husband LSW - long suffering wife

Those Were The Days

Ah! The long-awaited reunion post. I'm sure you've all been on pins & needles in anticipation.

Let me start off by saying that, since I began this blog, I've been reluctant to tell my age. I've danced around it a bit, but I've avoided specifics. I think one of the reasons has been that, since I don't know many of you personally, I've thought that, if you knew my age, you'd have pre-conceived ideas of who I am and what I'm like, based on my age. I mean, when I was younger, I always thought that this age is OLD. But, hell, in order to maybe appreciate my reunion stories, I'm going for it.

I recently attended my 40th class reunion. Yes, we were the Class of '69 at Edison HS in Edison, NJ. There were about 514 in our graduating class, and about 160 of us were at the reunion. I also attended my 20th reunion and my, how we've changed and I don't just mean physically. I didn't enjoy my 20th. All the conversations seemed to be about what one did for a living, how much money you had, the size of your home, the car you drove, etc, everyone trying to outdo each other. I remember one woman in particular who brought pictures of her home, room by room, her swimming pool, etc.

But, as I said, times have changed. The conversations were more about "so, how's life treated you?" There were happy stories of kids and grandkids and sad stories of loss and illness. Of course, there was a ton of reminiscing. And the class clowns were still clownish and those who were voted "Best Dressed" were still stylish, the "Best-Looking" guy was still looking good and even the Class Couple were still together (the hubby in that pair was "Mr. Best-Looking." In fact, there were 7 couples of high school sweethearts still married. To each other. I found that amazing. There were some people who I recognized right away, some who looked familiar, but couldn't recollect their name and some people I didn't know at all.

The party ended at 11PM, but continued in the Hospitality Suite until God knows when. I just know I went back to our room around 2:30AM, but stayed up another 2 hours, laughing and talking with my roomies. In the morning, we had a private room, so we could breakfast and spend a little more time together. It was as if no one wanted to leave, lingering over cups of coffee until the wait staff had removed the linens from the tables and we were forced to vacate the room. There were lots of hugs and kisses and vows that we have to get together soon. I know how often I've said that to people, but somehow, it never happens. But I think, this time, we all meant it. We actually set a date.

It's Been A Long Time

Bet, by the title of this post, you think I'm going to relate some stories about my class reunion. No. Not today. Don't really have time.
But, until yesterday, it HAD been along time. In fact, it was so long ago, I can't remember the last time....


I threw up. Yes, Sitting at my desk at work. Suddenly, my body got super hot and my stomach started doing flips. I jumped up with my hand over my mouth (just in case) and ran to the ladies' room, not very conveniently located, but I made it. It's such a horrible feeling, isn't it? Your body has taken control and there's nothing you can do to stop it.
When it was finally over, I was wiped out. Luckily, someone had heard me in there and had already told my boss what was happening. He must have thought she wanted him to do something because all he kept saying was "I can't go in there!" Not that I wanted him too.
Anyway, I went home and went to bed and the episode past.
Speaking of episodes, did you see the Seinfeld episode that I was thinking of yesterday while all this was happening (if you're a Seinfeld fan, you'll know the one).

Dog-Tired

I had a wonderful time at my class reunion last night. I haven't laughed so hard or so much in a long time. I got MAYBE 3 hours sleep, so, forgive me for not going into any detail right now. Jersey Girl is going to pay some bills, eat some dinner and turn in early. (Last episode of Mad Men will have to be DVR'd).
Stay tuned for thoughts and stories.....................

All Systems Go!

Tonight is my xxTH High School Class Reunion and it looks like my body is going to cooperate and feel well enough to attend. It's at a hotel and I have a room with a few of the "girls." Gotta run and try to take a few years off this face!

Jersey Girl Goes To Barnes and Noble

I've made a commitment to myself to start reading again, so I stopped by Barnes & Noble today. While perusing the shelves, the cover of a book caught my eye. I picked it up and couldn't believe my eyes. This book contains two of my favorite literary genres, Jane Austen (if you can call her a "genre") and vampires! And it said it was a NYT Bestseller. Where have I been? Am I the only book person that hadn't heard of this book?



It's the original text by Jane Austen with added scenes of "bone-crunching zombie action." Is this sick or what? I can't wait to start it! If I enjoy this, I may just have to pick up:



While I was engrossed amongst the bookshelves, one of the employees stopped by and asked me if I'd like a cupcake. I politely accepted, noting I never say no to anything sweet. It was only after I took my first bite did I notice i was in the "Diet" section. Do you think he set me up?

You know all those "What To Expect" titles: When You're Expecting, During the 1st Trimester? I've never read any of them, so I can't say whether they're any good or not, but I saw the newest addition to this series today and, if you ARE expecting, I suggest you pick this up and start reading it to your eventual prodigy:




And last, but not least, here's one more book I saw today. I doubt if I'll read it, but, perhaps some of the single ladies out there might be interested:

Modern Weddings

Whenever I attend a wedding, I'm always curious to see what, if any, new or different elements are included.

We attended a wedding last night. It was the wedding of Mike's cousin's stepson (I assume this is an example of a distant relative). The relatives on this side of the family (his mother's side) live in either Vermont or California, so we never see them and I'm not even sure how we got invited. It just happens that the groom was marrying a young lady from the Jersey Shore, so the wedding was local for us. Five of Mike's siblings and their spouses attended also, so we had our own table, which was great, being as I didn't know anyone else there. Mike's dad was there with his girlfriend, Barbara (Mike's mom is deceased). They were seated with the cousin. Barb & I are around the same age and she was very disappointed to not be at our table, which we were referring to as "the kids' table."

Two things about the reception stood out for me. First, the couples' song was The Beatles "In My Life," one of my favorite love songs. I guess The Beatles' music has officially transcended generations. Second, they had an artist there who was standing with her easel and paints, where I could watch to see what she was doing. When we first sat down, she had already painted the other side of the room, detailing the windows and their drapery, and a few tables. Once the bridal party arrived, she got really down to business. Eventually, the picture showed the bride, standing on the side of the dance floor, watching her groom, with tears in her eyes, dancing with her mother. I'm assuming the artist's job was to capture a moment at the reception, which she did. It was really lovely; I've never seen this done before.

The bride graduated from Harvard and Georgetown Law School, where she met her groom. During one of the FOUR toasts, someone mentioned that, in preparation for this toast, she went back through old e-mails between her and the bride. I smiled, realizing the days of saving meaningful letters tied together in an old shoebox, are gone.

One very humorous moment. The groom's younger brother, the best man, began his toast with the mike a bit too close to his mouth and the first word we heard, very loudly was "Fornication.' Everyone was laughing and I don't think he understood why. You could hear one of his nearby buddies say to him 'fornication?" Then the best man explained what he was really saying was "For an occasion" such as this....." Which had all of us laughing more. Of course, this was all captured on video, so that moment has been captured for eternity.

At each place-setting, there was a note from the newlyweds thanking everyone and explaining that, instead of wedding favors, they donated that money to the Leukemia Society. At the time, we were unaware, but learned later that the groom had been diagnosed with leukemia 3 years ago, but went i to remission after about 18 months of treatment. Sadly, the leukemia returned in June and he is currently undergoing some new, experimental treatment.

All in all, a lovely, though bittersweet, occasion.

Halloween Humbug

I do not enjoy Halloween. There. I said it out loud. I admit, it's surprising, considering my love for chocolate and things sweet. But, like with most things nowadays, I believe we've taken it a bit too far. Driving home last night, I passed numerous homes decked out like it was Christmas, with orange lights decorating the entire house. When did this all begin? And why? I know, some will say it's all harmless fun. I just don't understand why everything has to be an extravaganza now.
Another reason why my dislike for the day is odd (I don't even want to use the word "Holiday," because it's NOT a holiday! If it were, schools and post offices would be closed!) is that I LOVE scary things. The gorier, the better. (That's probably one of the reasons I became an EMT; I know. Sick, isn't it?) Nothing like a good, sick movie with flesh-eating zombies or chain-saw wielding maniacs, to keep me happy on a Saturday night.
Now, don't get me wrong. I have great memories of trick or treating from my childhood. We would go out with our friends for hours, without parents in tow, scouring all the nearby neighborhoods and getting tips from other kids on who was giving out the "good stuff." Sometimes, we'd have to make a trip home to drop off what we got so far because our bags (sometimes just a pillowcase) would become too heavy. I remember one neighbor, Mrs. Levine, who would make caramel apples for the neighborhood kids.
So, I'm really not sure when my dislike, or, at least, apathy, started. All I know is, Halloween is on a Saturday this year and, being the Halloween Scrooge I am, I hope it pours! BOO!

Random Randomness

What's this I'm hearing? Two NW pilots fell asleep in the cockpit last night and flew 150 miles past their destination??? I'm speechless.

I'm feeling very patriotic tonight. The LSH & I have decided to help stimulate our economy and go for broke; we just signed a contract to replace all our windows, doors and siding. What have you done today for your fellow American?

I heard something that disturbed me today; Waterford closed their factory in Ireland and now, all that beautiful, Irish crystal is be ing made in Czechoslovakia. Is there such a thing as a Czech leprechaun?

After the day i had at work today, I realize I don't like a lot of people.

Anyone planning on going to see the Michael Jackson movie? It's only going to be in theaters for only 2 weeks. Then, I'm betting it will be on the store shelves just in time for Christmas for, whaddaya think, $99.99?

After reading other folks' blogs and listening to co-workers, i realize I lead a pretty unexciting life. And, guess what? That's fine with me!

I resisted Facebook for the longest time. Finally, I created an account a few months ago, after being harassed by friends, but I rarely checked it. Then, when I finally checked it out, I was amazed that so many people I used to know, particularly from HS, had found me. Now, i admit, I enjoy it.

Weeks ago, I mentioned I wanted to re-design my blog. I still haven't done anything. And, would you believe, I've had my Blackberry for almost 3 months and i haven't programmed one name or number yet? I couldn't transfer anything from my old phone because it just crashed. I would pay someone to do it for me; hmmm, maybe I'll call up one of the nieces/nephews.

For the last two weeks, I've taken advantage of one of my local supermarkets' delivery services and must admit, I'm enjoying it. They sucked me in with free delivery for 60 days. Even if I have to pay for delivery, it might be worth it. That's how much I despise food shopping.

Got another wedding to attend this weekend. It's being held at quite a nice, luxury hotel nearby. I hope I'm feeling well so I can enjoy myself Saturday night.

It was just announced that Bonjovi is set to be the first concert at the new Giants Stadium in the spring. Maybe I'll finally get to see the local Jersey boys live in concert.

Have We Lost Our Minds???

I'm sure you've all heard stories like this before, but it finally happened to someone I know.
My friend got a message the other day from her 10-year old son's school, saying that they had heard that her son had been seen with drugs in school and they were going to check this out immediately. My friend didn't believe it for a minute and actually was quite curious as to what the school was going to tell her. Sure enough. She got in touch with the vice-principal, who told her that, indeed, they found drugs in his possession, Milk of Magnesia. That day happened to be her son's first day back to school after being out for 2 days with, what her doctor called "a nervous stomach" (which the teacher knew about) and had told her to give him MOM. She just didn't know he had taken it to school, but the poor kid was afraid he was going to get sick in school, so he brought it "just in case." Because of their "zero tolerance policy" and because this school district doesn't suspend students, he, instead, was put in a class for kids with "chronic" behavior problems. Of course, this has done nothing for his "nervous" stomach. He's scared to death of some of these kids, the school bullies and "tough" guys, that make up this class.
When did school administrators give up their authority to discipline on a case by case basis? And why? Don't these school boards trust the people they put in these positions to be able to identify between a student with illegal drugs and a poor kid afraid he's going to get sick in school? God only knows what this experience has done to the boy.

Chillin' On The Weekend

It seems like I'm becoming a weekend blogger. This was not the plan. But, I have to confess, by the time I get home from work, with all the extra demands and stress that comes with it, plus the symptoms of my still un-diagnosed malady (more tests coming end of month) and I come home from work and go immediately to bed. Sometimes, if I wake up around 8PM, I'll get up a have a bowl of cereal, maybe check out a few blogs, and head back to bed. Not much of a life, I admit.
Speaking of work, did anyone consider, when they decided to hand me all the responsibilities of a full-time position that was eliminated during the cutbacks while keeping all the responsibilities of the full-time position I've held for 3+ years, that not everything is going to get done in a timely manner and, eventually something's gonna give (mainly me). I mean, they paid someone for over 10 years to do a job that they now say I should be able to handle, along with my other duties. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place because, if I say I can't handle it, the powers that be, who have no idea who I am, let alone what my job entails, will just say "If she can't handle it, we'll get someone who can." And they may go through 2 or 3 new hires before someone realizes "Hey, maybe one person can't do all this." Meanwhile, I'll be long gone. And the guy I report too, although sympathetic, loses that sympathy when it's something HE wants that doesn't get done immediately. And he would never speak up for me. He's a wimp and hates conflict or confrontation. So, I don't see this getting any better.
I love a weekend when there's nothing on the calendar. I'm not anti-social. I'm looking forward to next weekend's wedding and my upcoming class reunion, but not having anything scheduled is very free-ing, if that's a word.
As I've been going to bed early during the week, I'm glad I've found many of the new shows can be found online (I don't even remember when they're on most of the time, so forget the tivo).

MADMEN - Is there anyone who has seen this show who hasn't been drawn in by these characters and their lives? What is it about this show that interests us (besides Mr. Draper-hubba! hubba!)? I mean, all the characters are miserable. Look at Don & Betty. A beautiful couple to see. But Don can't keep his pants on and Betty is miserable and looking elsewhere for what she misses. They never act playfully together or make each other laugh. When I think about it, my parents, who were of this generation, were the same, at least in front of us kids. It IS fun to see everyone drinking and smoking, at work, at home , in labor. Really.

FLASH FORWARD = I got caught up in the concept from the minute this show began. Everyone in the world loses consciousness at the same time for 137 seconds, where they "flash forward" in their minds, seeing what they'll be doing at that time in exactly 6 months. Knowing the future will affect how we behave in the present. Definitely interesting to me. Plus Joseph Fiennes is mighty fine.

MERCY - I've always had a thing for medical dramas, probably going back to Dr. Kildare (I even remember the title of my favorite Kildare episode,"Tyger, Tyger" with Yvette Mimieux). This is another one of those hospital-based dramas filled with doctors & nurses with huge character flaws, similar to "Grey's Anatomy", an older show I still follow.

Friday Night Lights - I love this show! Although it won't air on network tv until Jan., DirectTV will start airing it next week, I'm not sure, if you've weren't a viewer before, that it will capture your interest now. But it's worth a shot. Other than the fact that the supposed high school students are played by actors who haven't seen the inside of a classroom in quite a few years (including Minka Kelly, who has gained some renown for her relationship with Derek Jeter), it's well-acted and beautifully written. And Kyle Chandler isn't hard on the eyes.

And, for laughs, I'm hooked onModern Family
a quirky comedy starring Ed O'Neil of "Married With Children" fame.

I'm going to end with a photo of two of my nephews I took at last week's wedding. Does the word "mischievious" come to mind?

Passionately Pink

Yesterday was "Passionately Pink Day" at the office, to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. Everyone was asked to wear something pink, the more, the better. I just don't understand people who don't participate in something like this. Now, I realize, some of us go a bit overboard (including me; see examples below) when it comes to things like this. How hard is it to wear something, anything, with a little pink on it? Of course, you'll always get the guys who feel emasculated if they come near anything pink. When I see or hear that, my opinion of them goes down a few degrees. I'm always tempted to comment that I bet they're not so averse to pink when they are near a gal's pink "private parts;" then pink ain't so bad, is it?
But I really don't understand the women who choose to not participate in this. I mean, statistics show that everyone knows someone who has/had breast cancer. I ran into a co-worker in the ladies' room dressed all in black and asked her where her pink was. I was expecting her to say she forgot about it when she was getting dressed that morning. But her reply was "I don't do pink." Even our company gave out pink pins to everyone. She wasn't even wearing that. I know it's just symbolic and wearing pink isn't going to cure anything, except maybe the mood around the office. Which it definitely did. Plus it brings people together and what's wrong with that?
Anyway, here are a couple of pix from yesterday (can you guess which gal is me?):

Who Needs A Giggle?

Don't have much time (or energy) to post, but this lady is a pisser.

Eight Years Ago Today.....

I finally got it right. I married my wonderful LSH, Michael. Happy Anniversary. I'd do it all over again.
The photo above is a bouquet Michael put together of wildflowers from our backyard. He actually made two, one for home and one for my office. We were going to go out to dinner, but I'm very tired. I'd rather go this weekend when I'll, hopefully, be more awake!
I'm very excited. My delivery of Holey Donuts arrived today! I haven't had any yet, but I hear they're spectacular. They're gourmet, low-fat donuts, handmade, nothing artificial. They're pretty expensive normally, but I got them on sale.
If you shop online, you just have to try Ebates.com You go on their site and link to any one of 100's of stores, from Walmart and Lowes to Kate Spade and Sephora. If you buy something, you get a rebate back, anywhere from 2% to 10%, and sometimes more. They send you a check every month. I was suspicious at first, but there really isn't any catch. When you link through the Ebates website, you go to the same website as if you didn't. Prices are the same. You get a rebate on whatever you buy, even clearance sale items. BTW, I'm not being paid by Ebates or anyone to promote them. Just wanted to share this great find. Check them out and tell me what you think. I don't shop any site without checking first if they're part of Ebates.
Thanks to everyone who commented, emailed or phoned with your thoughts and best wishes in regards to my health. It's greatly appreciated.
I hope to get back to posting on a somewhat more regular basis. Hope everyone is doing well.

Calling All Teachers

This is for all my teacher friends:

Cut & paste:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1212601907690

Kudos To A Family Member

Congratulations to my bro-in-law, Mike Siegel. Mike is a cartographer at Rutgers and, along with a few others, has published his second book, "Mapping New Jersey." Mike's part was to create new maps based on various facts, like the area code changes over the years in NJ. Even if you're not a "map person" (like me), it's full of lots of interesting info about NJ. Here's a recent book review:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/article_6614a799-ca92-589c-bd18-71c37f3becea.html#user-comment-area

This is the second book Mike has contributed to, his first being "The Encyclopedia of New Jersey."

Hey, fellow Jerseyites, it's never too early to start your Christmas shopping!

I've Got A Case Of The Pity-Mes

I'm sitting here looking at 2 tickets for the Springsteen concert at Giants stadium, Section 120, that I purchased on 6/1, that went unused last night. It's joining a growing collection of other tickets/invites that went unused because, when the day of the event finally arrived, I wasn't well enough to go. Whatever this thing I have is, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MS, or the newest opinion, peripheral neuropathy, it's ruining my life and making it impossible to commit to anything ahead of time, not to mention the lost money spent on events never attended. Last night's tickets cost $235. Within the next month, I have two family weddings and my class reunion.
I saw a new specialist, a neurologist, last week and had some tests; still waiting for the results. Meanwhile, it looks like another weekend spent in bed, hoping I can accumulate enough rest to make it through the next work week, which is not really how this undiagnosed malady works because, no matter how much rest I get, I never feel rested. I'm in constant pain, from my toes, feet, hands, fingers to even my mouth and tongue. I'm down to eating only soft foods because anything else hurts my mouth. My head hurt so much the other day, I took one of my husband's migraine pills.
On the days this past week I worked a full day, I went directly to bed each night. This is no way to live. I'm praying that this new doctor will be able to help me.

Just Checking In

It's been a week since my last post. Things have been crazy, just too much to do and not enough time to do it. But I just wanted to check in and let anyone who cares, know that I'm alive.
Hope the video below puts a smile on your face, like it did mine!

Honest Scrap (Crap?)

A few weeks ago, my friend and fellow Jersey girl (although she landed in Jersey via Massachusetts), Donna, presented this challenge to me, in the form of the "Honest Scrap" award.

The Honest Scrap Award rules are as follows:
1. “The Honest Scrap” award is not one to hold all to your self but it must be shared!
2. The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves in their blog that no one else knows.
3. The recipient has to pass along this prestigious award to 10 more bloggers.
4. Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5. Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.

WARNING!

FAMILY MEMBERS

I’M QUITE CANDID. IF YOU REALLY DON’T

WANT TO KNOW ANYMORE ABOUT ME THAN

YOU ALREADY DO, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.

10 things about myself that I haven't shared with you guys yet. Well, here it goes:

!. I was President of my sixth grade class. I won this prestigious post over two challengers. I'm sure it had everything to do with my creative campaign motto. My last name was Rooney, so the hallowed halls of my parochial school were plastered with posters advising my classmates "Don't Be Looney; Vote For Rooney!" Hey! It worked!
2. I've tried some illegal drugs in my time, during my late teens, early 20's. Mostly pot and hash. (I actually had my own hash pipe). I was afraid to try anything harder, particularly after seeing the effect acid and mesc had on some of my college buddies. I did try coke once, but it didn't do much for me. I believe pot should be legal. Free up some of the law enforcement folks to go after the REALLY bad guys.
3. In my 20's, I was attracted to married men. Not proud of it, but I was one very confused chick. And I'm not talking brief flings; one lasted 3 years and another 2. And this was a girl who always said all she wanted to do was get married and have a family. Obviously, I had major man issues.
4. I lost my virginity my freshman year in college to the soundtrack of Santana's first album. "Soul Sacrifice" is one hot song, let me tell you!
5. I was the first female sales representative for, what is now, the world's largest food company. This was way back in the olden days, before women did such things. In fact, I started as a part-time merchandiser. In less than a year, i was hired as a full-time sales rep, their first female rep ever and eventually became a sales manager. For many years, I was the "token" female. Some male customers refused to talk to me because "I was taking a job away from a man." It took quite awhile before that mindset changed. I don't think the young women to day realize what their moms, aunts, etc went through to get where we are today. Of course, NOW I would just LOVE to be able to stay home.
6. I met Bruce Springsteen once. Not just a "I saw him in a restaurant/store" story (just about everyone who lives around here has one of those). No, this is a "I was introduced to him through a mutual acquaintance and Bruce got up from his chair and shook my hand and said 'Nice to meet you" story. Happened a few years ago at an after-school program for disadvantaged kids in Red Bank that I volunteered at. Bruce was a great supporter of the program and would occasionally stop in to read or sing to the kids.
7. When I was 19, I got locked in a building on the Rutgers campus overnight with an instructor. I think it was a grad student union or something like that.
8. Again, when I was 19, my father had me arrested in Dover for stealing a car. It had been my mother's car prior to her passing a few months earlier. Since that time, it had become my transportation. However, Daddy-dear was very po'd with his little girl and figured he teach me a lesson. The Dover police convinced him to drop the charges (via the phone), told me to go home and gave me a police escort out of town. How's that for service? Your tax dollars at work.
9. I have recently become obsessed with watches. Not expensive ones, more costume-like jewelry in different colors and unique designs. I just bought two today online.
10. I owned a travel agency for over 7 years. I had been contemplating selling it. Then, one day, we were held up by a masked gunman. I was out of there 3 months later.

Was this a little more information than you needed?

I'm supposed to tag 10 fellow bloggers. Instead, I'm going to leave it for those of you who wish to take on this exercise.

Opinions Please

How many of you are familiar with this song? Is it too "60's" or "hippie" for wedding ceremonies in the 21st century? I always wanted it to be played at my (first) wedding, but, for various reasons, it didn't happen. What are your thoughts?

See WHO In My Dreams?

Have you ever fallen asleep with the tv on and find that your dreams are incorporating some of the things happening on the tv? I was home from work for a day and a half this week, suffering through another flare-up of the inexplicable malady, fibromyalgia, and most of my time was spent in bed, dozing in front of the television. And, let me tell you. the dreams I had! One involved David Caruso (I assume I was sleeping through a rerun of CSI Miami).
He was telling me how concerned he was for "Mother", who lived with him and wasn't well and he just wasn't sure what he was going to do. We ran into Eva La Rue, who plays Natalia on the show, and he repeated the same thing to her. Eventually, he asked me to stop by his place later so I could see "Mother" for myself. I went over and a stranger answered the door and said David was downstairs with "Mother." So I headed down the stairs and found David and "Mother," his aging Boxer dog.
During my nap-a-thon, I also had that old stand-by dream, going to school and forgetting my locker combination. I must have that dream 2 or 3 times a year. What's THAT about? The last dream I remember had something to do with the Holocaust (Schindler's List? Sophie's Choice?), but I don't really remember much about that one.
Also, generally, in all my dreams, when I dream about some male celebrity, I'm ALWAYS their best friend. I've been the BFF for Jon BonJovi, Springsteen, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Patrick Dempsey, among others. Maybe my sub-conscious believes I'll be around longer as a friend, rather than a lover, which is probably true. But c'mon. Just once, can't I be the hot, trashy one night stand? My sub-conscious & I are going to have a good heart to heart very soon, so I can remind it that I'm not getting any younger and the only shot I have with these guys is IN my dreams, so it's time to lighten up and let mama have a little fun!

The Dress

Well, I got a dress to wear to the weddings and reunion. When I asked your thoughts about wearing the same dress to both weddings, which will be attended by many of the same people, some of you gave me some good suggestions like, buying something somewhat simple, ie. a little black dress, and accessorizing differently. Makes a lot of sense. But, instead, I bought a dress that has a print that will NOT be forgettable, no matter what I wear with it. But, MOM, I REALLY like it! I like it so much that I may even buy another of the same style with a different design that Nordstrom's has an exclusive online. AND, if my class reunion does happen, it will be perfect because it's so retro 60's.
Now, I've still got decent legs, so I think I can pull off the length. And with a little Spanx (ok, Otin, this may be more information than you want to know), I think I can pull it off.
Here's the Nordstrom's exclusive I'm considering.

Remembering

It was going to be a lovely, late-summer day. The weathermen promised blue skies, temps in the high 70's. Alarm clocks around town began to wake the weary, letting them know it was time to begin the Monday through Friday routine again - shower, dress, maybe some time for breakfast or, at least a cup of coffee, kiss the spouse and kids good-bye, and head out the door to begin their commute; some by car, some by bus and some, even by ferry. Thirty-seven residents of my town headed to the train station for the 80 minute trek into NYC. Within hours, they were all dead.
September 11, 2001. Nothing in our past could have prepared us for what happened that day. My town, Middletown, lost more residents that day than any other town. The morning of 9/12, one couldn't help but be aware of the cars still in the station parking lot, waiting for the people who drove them there the previous morning.
To remember these residents and give those left behind a place to reflect and perhaps find some comfort, Middletown designed a memorial garden. The memorial features a landscaped walking path with individual memorials for each resident lost, where visitors can reflect about the loss Middletown suffered. Here are a few photos I took during my last visit there in July.

Tiffany Blue - Part II

Back in November, I posted about receiving a gift card for Tiffanys from the company I work for. Would you believe I finally used it? It turns out, it was for $125, not $250, as I posted. I wondered what the chances were to find something I liked that I wouldn't have to put out much of my own cash. Actually, it wasn't that hard. Sure, I saw plenty of other things I would have loved to have, I know I have champagne tastes; without knowing the prices, I gravitated to some of the more expensive items, like this bracelet and this ring, which, it turned out to be from the same designer, Jean Schlumberger. However, I came back down to earth and got this simple, little bracelet. But, whether it costs $125 or $20,000, it will still arrive in that little, blue box which, for me, is almost as good as the bracelet itself.

And How Was YOUR Weekend?

Well, my 5 day stay-cation (it's amazing how quickly that term has become part of our everyday speak) is about over. It was so nice to have time to do the "should-dos" like cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. and the want-to-dos, like ballgames, reading and just chilling out.
On Saturday, the LSH & I attended the Mets vs. Cubs game at Citifield. We got there early and played tourist. The area where Shea Stadium once stood is now a parking lot. But they have marked where the infield was, first, second, third base, home and the pitcher's mound. I made sure I had my pic taken at home and third base. However, I hate my pictures, so I refuse to post them.

I bought the tickets on StubHub. Many of the season ticket holders are selling their tix at quite a discount, just trying to recoup some of the cash they laid out. When I printed them, I saw that these tickets entitled us to access to the Acela Club. Now, since the stadium opened, I have been somewhat vocal regarding what I saw as "elitism" with certain bars and/or restaurants allowing only customers who had purchased tickets in specific seating levels, entry. That exclusiveness just didn't sit well with me. I mean, this is baseball, the All-American game, the game of the people. But, I admit, I was curious and, at the suggestion of a friend, I found myself calling to see about getting a reservation. And we were not only able to score a res foe 12:45PM. but our table would be on the outdoor patio overlooking the field. The reservationist assured me that we could sit there and watch the entire game, if we wanted.
So, as conflicted as I was, that was where we were for the entire game. And, I admit, both of us enjoyed it thoroughly. I guess this officially makes me a phony-baloney. If it helps, I'm still very conflicted. And, honestly, I've felt very bad for the owners of the Mets, The Wilpons, who lost, reportedly, over $700 million in the Bernie Madoff rip-off. So, I'm glad I could do something to help them, by enjoying the most expensive French Toast I have ever had.

Morro Castle Anniversary

I don't know if I'm in the minority in my interest with such things, although I don't think I am, considering the success of the film "Titanic," but there was another, lesser known cruise ship tragedy that occurred off the Jersey Shore coastline in the mid 30's. My local newspaper, the Asbury Park Press, is featuring a three day series on the story of the Morro Castle. For those who might find this interesting, here's the link.
I've always thought that people today were more selfish and eager to make a quick buck than those in the past, but, sadly, it appears, folks back in our parents and grandparents' times were not so different.

Happy Hour Friday!!!

The Wonderful Wizard of Otin and his sidekick, RxBambi have decided that every Friday should be the day we share a few things that make us happy. And I'm "happy" to be participating in the first Happy Hour Friday.

Some things that make me happy:

1. A 3-day weekend.
2. A Mets win. (I know, there hasn't been much happiness this season :(
3. Red velvet cupcakes.
4. Losing 5 pounds (by not indulging in those red velvet cupcakes).
5. My 13 year old Sheepdog getting a clean bill of health from the vet. (According to the vet , the only disease he's suffering from is old age, just like me).
6. Having time to put my feet up and read a good book.
7. Knowing I have tickets to see Springsteen in a few weeks.
8. My boss being out of the office.
9. Chocolate, any type of chocolate, in any form - candy, ice cream, cake. You name it. It's all good.
10. Enjoying a meal (and a margarita or two on the rocks with salt) sitting outside, with views of the water, with fun friends and my sweetie.

Happy Holiday!

To all you hard-working bloggers out there, enjoy the holiday. Stay safe and let's all relax!

A Woman's Dilemma

Today was the start of a 5 day weekend for me. Yay!
I have 2 weddings to attend in October and a possible class reunion in November, so today i went looking for a dress with no success. But my usual dressing room frustration returned, as I brought in 6 different pieces of clothing, 5 of which were a size 12 and 1 a size 10. Two of the size 12s were too big, two were too small, and the size 10, which, when I brought it in to try on, I thought "who are you kidding?", fit perfectly. Men, when they go to buy a pair of jeans/slacks, know they're a 34W 32L, or whatever. Women's sizes don't even make any sense - size 8, size 12, size 18W. What do those numbers mean anyway? Then, you break those sizes down even further. Are you a Junior, Misses, Petite, Woman?
I noticed a lot of the clothes they're showing for the fall reminded me of my hippie days - paisley, multi-colored designs. A lot of animal prints too. Not sure if I can pull that look off anymore.
I have one dilemma. There will be many of the same people at both weddings. I'm having a hard time finding ONE dress; do I now have to get two??

PS. This is NOT my new blog design. I just wanted something else while I'm trying to figure out what to do.