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.