10/2/10

God is GOOD!

This morning, I woke up and an article on Yahoo News caught my eye, regarding 9/11 conspiracy theories, and I will admit to having avoided the quack job theories in the past, lest I seem un-American. I have maintained in the past that Bush used 9/11 to engage in a war on a country not involved with 9/11. That is obvious to most by now. There were zero Iraqis on the planes.

However, today I not only read the article, I read the reader comments and I will admit some are compelling. Fact: the plane that hit the Pentagon was not captured on video. How this tidbit escaped my critical mind is beyond me! Except for the fact that we were overloaded with images of the towers being hit, and were repeatedly talked through the Pentagon attack, that just maybe in my mind, I could see it happen. Hmmmmmm. My question: how could the MOST protected building in the US not have video surveillance?

Fact: We have all seen the wreckage of jetliners before. Peruse (and I'm using the CORRECT definition of the word, which means to look closely, and NOT skim) the wreckage footage. I had an ear-witness who was working outside of the White House on that day, say to me, that he first thought it was a bomb or missile and that it was the loudest thing he ever heard. Hmmmmm. My question: shoulnt the wreckage resemble that of Lockerby(sp)?

Not even going to touch all the amended stories regarding building 7.

I'm not saying I am buying into any of this. I am saying that it would be un-American of me to NOT question our government. My grandfathers fought a war to protect my right to do so. Is it too far-fetched to think that our government could have known about and therefore prevented this? Or that the United States could possibly sacrifice a few for the sake of the United States cause?

One comment that hit me square in the gut was this: Many Germans didn't believe Hitler did what the rest of the world KNOWS he was responsible for.
And we think they're morons because they believe what they're government tells them. Hmmmmmm.

Be an American. Question, investigate, vote, SPEAK, and support your fellow Americans and not necessarily the government. Another comment that made me laugh was: Don't forget your flu shot this year, it is free from the government!

Continue to support our troops. They should not be mistreated for doing their job.

The Worst

The worst day at work EVER. And we all know that my last worst day had me looking for new jobs. I was so close to walking out the door this morning. This is all administrative crap, nothing to do with actual work, although that has been pretty sucky lately too!

I'm not going to rehash it on here because really I've talked it out with fellow employees and we all know I'm in the right. I can be the bigger person and suck it up, while looking for new jobs. Or maybe my husband will let me quit!!! :)

However, trust that the Lord is doing amazing work in me! He kept my mouth quiet this morning and even has been working on some forgiveness issues in my heart. We shall see.

I slept horribly last night so this evening, I'm going to relax and read. I have already taken a relaxing hot bath. Shaved, loofahed, gave myself a pedicure and don't feel the need to do my hair because of the humidity. I am just going to bed anyway.

I came home from such a crappy day to THE sweetest baby in the world. She had big smiles for me and lots of laughs. I love that baby girl so much and she has an amazing way of keeping my whole life in perspective!

Long Night

Taking J and B to Salve Regina University tonight. Normally I love my Thursday evening routines at Salve. Tonight though, we're expecting the rain, heavy winds and high surf advisory to continue. Anyone familiar with the campus knows it is located on Newport's cliff walk, and I was hoping to get a couple of miles in before dark today, but it isn't looking like the weather will be cooperating. I will be at J's around 2ish and I will be home around 9 tonight. Hoping to finish my book this evening.

I really can't believe September is just about over. Normally I love this month. This year, it seemed to fly by and I didn't really take the time to enjoy it. Work has been challenging, so I seem to spend my days off recovering and then stressing about when I have to go back. The week starts on my day off Sunday. Unless I have a staff meeting, which I do every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, and a committee meeting every 1st Wednesday of the month, I don't have to be at work till Friday. Sunday comes and then the next thing I know, it is Friday again. Hit repeat.

And and

My heart does go out to the hard working Americans who can not afford health insurance or their employers just don't offer it. And to the many many Americans who keep crappy jobs just because the benefits are good! When Zach was little we had to have Mainecare because his dad's company didn't have affordable benefits, then when we split up, his dad had to pay for insurance per the child support agreement. I'm sure we all know people who need Medicaid but don't qualify because they make too much money and these same people can't afford private insurance. These are the working Americans that the government needs to stop ignoring.

And

And I don't wish to discuss or defend any observation I made in my post. I realize some of you will attack my generalizations in the post and maintain that I was implying anyone on Medicaid is questionable, etc. I was remarking on the efficiency of the office and my personal experience there.

My political opinion as of current, is the entire middle class is continuing to support a government that caters to the rich and the poor. Duh! And nothing will ever change, so I take care of my own with hard work and marrying well! I love you honey, thank you for taking such good care of us!

Finally

I finally sat down and spent 5 minutes configuring my phone to my Flickr account and reconfiguring my Flickr account to the blog, as I switched a few months ago to the beta version. Not sure that I'm completely happy with that decision, because I had the other version figured out beautifully and seemlessly. But it literally took five minutes to sit down and do it. I lost my site meter when I switched blogs, but the beta version offers their own stats, and my Blackberry/Flickr/blog picture process is even faster than the old school digital camera/Flickr/blog process. So it is quickly becoming more comfortable and home like, like my former blog layout used to feel.

Just trying to relax and not think about going to work tomorrow. I'm a little on the done side and approaching burn-out. I think this is the longest I've worked at one job except the five years I put in with rec sports. Time to look at teaching jobs again, I guess, but I have such a sweet schedule and am making as much money. Seriously don't want to work 7:30-3 every day. But this super stressful one day I currently am working makes five days of less stress/no sleep seem heavenly.

I took Zach to the walk-in care here in town. I've never experienced such a quick doctor visit in my life! Literally, in and out, prescription called in and when we got to the pharmacy, it was ready. Amazing! I think this is partly due to the fact that this is an insurance only office. No welfare. This is in the next town over from us, which has high rates of Medicaid, and all I can say is, while I don't care for discrimination, I DO like that there was zero wait time. We literally walked in, handed over our insurance card, Zach's temp and strep test were run while my insurance was being verified. Waited ten minutes for the test to be complete, doc called us in and said he already called the script in for us. Out the door we went. The waiting area had nice comfy couches, a big flat screen tv on the wall, awesome magazines. Soooooo not a general practioners office! There were no questionable people in the waiting area. Most were just coming in for their flu shots. Plenty of hand sanitizer around. All in all, I give this location an A+! Well done!

Love This Expression!

Love This Expression!
Originally uploaded by jennluvsgable

Yeah she was pretty much done smiling for the camera at this point!

5 Months Old

5 Months Old
Originally uploaded by jennluvsgable

This is Bella's favorite toy. It sings a highly annoying song. It is a hand-me-down gift from my lovely sister and YES Bella can sit all by herself now. No more Bumbo for her! Except when she's eating. Not bad for our 5 month old beauty. As my sister said, she is the perfect combination of Kayla, Hayley and Zach.

Tillinghast Pond

Tillinghast Pond
Originally uploaded by jennluvsgable

Took a drive yesterday to one of my favorite spots in RI.

Difficult Morning

I've been avoiding checking my old local news because the trial of Holly's murderer started this week. I made the mistake of reading the transcripts this morning. I still have no ounce of forgiveness for these two individuals and would love to witness their long drawn out brutal murders. Alas, I have to just sit here and know that one gets out of prison in 6 years, and the other will probably die in jail at an old age because Maine does not believe in the death penalty.

My daughters brought home lots of friends, but of them all, two managed to worm their way into my heart and into our family. Holly and Devon.

Holly was brutally stabbed to death August 8, 2009. I will never forget the late night hysterical phone call from my daughter when Holly's body was found. I will never forget the numb feeling in my body that lasted a few days before I could cry. I am still concerned about my lack of willingness to forgive. My Christian faith took a deep hit. If I ever find peace or forgiveness over this, it will truly be a miracle of God. I can't bare the thought of deleting her cell phone number off my phone or deleting her Myspace page. Unfortunately, I lost her last text message to me when I got a new cell phone. I will never forget our last conversation and if I could turn back time, it would have been more meaningful. I will never forget the dream I had of Holly days after her murder. She was going through my closet like she often did, looking for clothes to steal, and I said Holly, you know you're dead and she said yes, but don't be scared of me. In another dream, my cellphone was ringing and I looked down and saw Holly's name on the screen and woke up screaming. Knowing my love of horror movies, I'm sure she's up there laughing at me being scared of a dream!

I miss you and think of you often, and I'm sad that Bella and your nephew will never know their Aunt Holly.

Notorious

Grrrrrrr. Zach notoriously gets strep throat once or twice a year. (Occasionally more than that in a bad year. He got lucky last year and didn't get strep once.) I notoriously wait to ride it out. A sudden high fever with Zach and my gut says, strep. Does your throat hurt?? No, Mom. 6 hours later, Zach says his throat hurts. Fever is gone, which is odd because Zach's fever never breaks till penicillin time with strep. So I'm thinking, SCORE! It was just a quick little bug. Today, after football practice, he comes home, takes a shower and is covered in the notorious strep rash. Awesome. Headed to walk-in care tomorrow morning. Now I feel like I have a headache and sore throat. I have not had to see a doctor for illness since moving to Rhode Island in in 2007.

I was reading lots of cutesy, witty blogs today and remembered when I had a cute and witty blog and more going for me than a clean house.

And I just read that the new iPad will have a camera. And the new Blackberry version of the iPad has TWO cameras. One I'm assuming is to be able to Skype or video chat. Whatever. I'm getting the iPhone. I do wish Apple would let you trade in and trade up. I will gladly pay the difference. All of this has gotten me in a foul mood. Seriously, I have a headache now and a sore throat. What the eff! Looks like I will be getting a throat swab too. Except I notoriously wait to see if it really is strep until I can't take it anymore and break down and go to the doctor.

Ok my throat is feeling better. I'm probably fine. Just a temporary reaction to seeing Zach's rash.

I just re-read this post and my throat hurts again.

What A Day!

What a day already! I've blogged sufficiently. I put my shoes away. Dusted. Swept and washed floors. Went through all the outdated mail. Dishes are washed. The tray under the dog dishes is washed. Trash taken out. All that is left is pick up Zach from football practice later and go tanning. I will go for my walk around that time as well. We're having shepherds pie for dinner tonight. I have the air conditioner running. So tired of dealing with mugginess. I shut up the house and have the air running. I can finally breathe again!

Projects for the upcoming days include putting my CDs in a tote. Get a new plant for the living room. My beautiful lovely plant fell and some of it has died but I should be able to rehab it. Currently it is unsightly and will probably need to be repotted in a smaller pot since so much of it died. Paint the pumpkins. Go to some furniture stores because I want a new coffee table and new end tables.

With the exception of a few last tasks to do today, I'm going to read, write and relax this evening. I feel so much better paring down my items. I'm going to tackle my closet again and see if I can illiminate a few more items. I'm also going to pick up a few accessories like belts and scarves to dress up or down a few of my existing items. LOVE my shoe collection. I just want another pair of Uggs to replace the ones I'm giving to Hayley.

I think while I'm relaxing, I'm going to work on my list of goals for the upcoming year and my list of things to do before I die. Then I'm going to make plans for my upcoming vacations. I'm thinking Cancun, Florida again, and DC. Not sure when I will get the Grand Canyon and California squeezed in. Thankfully my husband agrees that we shouldn't wait till we retire to do all the fun traveling.

Healthwise, I really want to get back on track with eating more of a raw diet and drinking my green smoothies again. I also need to work on drinking 96 ounces of water a day. I really think the fountain of youth has been available to us and right under our noses in the form of healthy h2o.

SO...

If I focus more of my blog posts on the most amazing grand daughter in the world, it is simply because, I am a very proud grandmother and because I'm trying to forget about the day to day overwhelming struggle of pushing my own babies out of the nest. They certainly don't talk about this in the baby books!

And...

I do have to say that parenting adult and almost adult children is far more stressful and anxiety ridden than I ever expected or imagined. I realize that we're in the final lap of things, so to speak, so I do believe the end of these stressful times is near, but oh my good Lord! So worrisome pushing kids out of the nest. Regarding my last post, I think I did a fairly ok job keeping them away from danger, but I recognize that it was ME keeping them from danger. I need to trust that they can continue to make good choices for themselves and have some strong moral values.

I'm not really fearful of actual danger regarding their physical bodies. Mostly it is just overwhelming to think about what it takes to be a productive member of society. Getting them started on life plans such as college apps, career goals, family/relationship goals, checking accounts, the importance of maintaining pristine credit and helping them with that along the way to build their credit, first apartments, actually letting them drive on these dangerous highways (ok, that is one physical danger I DO lose sleep over), health insurance, instilling in them that welfare is NOT an option, and when they ask their all-knowing Mommy what she thinks...I think I want them all back in my womb where they are safe and sound!

9/28/10

Another warm day in paradise. Supposed to be in the 70s all week. A very humid 78 today. Thunderstorm if we're lucky. Glad I tan artificially because it is too sticky outside for pants, so shorts it still is!

Miss Bella sits by herself now. Not too shabby for a newly 5 month old being! Pretty mobile too, just not as effectively as she'd like! She's been playing peek-a-boo for awhile now, and most baby development books say this happens around 5 months, so she is exactly where we want her to be, which is slightly ahead of the game. We are currently working on 6 month old skills when she's cooperative. Her Nonni is a TEACHER after all! And her great aunts and her great-Grammie are teachers too! Her great-great-great Nana, Jennie, was a school teacher as well! We read two or three books per evening and she and I enjoy our Nonni and Bella time, but she LOVES to learn new physical skills. So very active. We will definitely have an early walker on our hands. At this age she is supposed to start showing signs of fear around strangers. She doesn't. She does however hold her arms out to the person she really wants to hold her. And that person usually has some kind of motorized device on their person. Cell phone, watch, computer, etc. She stops what shes doing to watch commercials, especially the Pillow Pets commercial! Guess what she's getting for Christmas??? She also swims in the tub! So cute! She loves to lay on her belly in the tub and move herself from one end to the other! Kayla is so glad she isn't scared of water. My belief is that kids are fearful when their parents are fearful. A parent may know how to swim, but if they're fearful of water involving their children, the kid picks up on this anxiety.

I also shared a profound statement with my daughter concerning discipline. When a young toddler starts toddling, parents will often slap a baby's hand and say no. I personally do not believe corporal punishment is ever appropriate, but the child psychologist I'm going to quote, and I can not remember the name or link, says it best. "It is your job as a parent to protect and keep your child from danger, not discipline him/her when he/she finds it!" Mind you, this was regarding a discussion about slapping a baby's hand when going near an outlet or approaching the fireplace. A young child is just doing what is ingrained in him to do, explore his world. Hitting a child this early on, shows the child that hitting is appropriate. If the child is 5 or 6 and still playing with outlets, then I guess I'd leave that up to the parents. In my opinion, corporal punishment shows a lack of care and concern and creativity on the part of the parents and demonstrates their laziness to bother trying redirection or simply removing the child from the situation. Again, most of this is my opinion but I've raised three fairly well behaved children without ever spanking them! I have an almost 21 year old, a 19 year old and a 16 year old, two girls and a boy, and they don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs and they call or text me several times a day and still ask if they can do things, to which I usually reply, "uhhh, you ARE an adult!" The proof is in the pudding!

Things DONE!

Let's see...I had Zach snake the tub because as I was cleaning out my make-up drawer, I was bent over funny and really hurt my back. I didn't want to further aggravate it yet because I still had to scrub out the tub/shower. He was kind enough to oblige even through his sickness. He actually did a fabulous job! I just did it like a month ago, so I was ticked off it had to be done again so soon, especially since I've been taking greater care with the drain. He got some stuff out of there that I probably had missed the last few times. Drain is working perfectly, so I was able to clean the tub! Yay! I hate dirty tubs and showers. So gross. Lysol tub cleaner with bleach works wonders on mold and mildew, but definitely has a strong bleach smell. I also use it on stains on my white cupboards in my kitchen. Also works getting hair dye off the sink and floor. Not so great on soap scum. I prefer to let the chemical do the work for me when it comes to that. I used Mr. Clean with Febreeze bathroom cleaner. Worked marvelously and I didn't have to break my back!

The menu is also done and groceries bought and put away. This week, since it will be so rainy, will just be some good old comfort quickie meals. Italian wedding soup and Texas cheese toast tonight. Shepherd's pie tomorrow. American chop suey on Wednesday, pizza on Thursday and taco dinner on Friday.

I also went through my make-up and went through the outdated lotions and potions, etc. Freed up a lot of space in there, so things are much more organized. Seriously, I had some stuff in there that I remember using when Zach was a baby. I was holding on this foot lotion why? Gonzo. The cheap Walmart body wash, lotion gift set? Gonzo. I would never use the Walmart gift set crap because A.) it is cheaply made B.) I have extremely sensitive skin to harsh chemicals and C.) because I buy my own products from Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works. I do use the Walmart shower gel to clean the toilet. It suds it up fine and gets the water ring off and buys me some time between disinfections.

Tomorrow I'm going to go through all of the mail that has piled up. Get newest bills in order. Throw away old stuff from last year. File the stuff that needs to be filed. I really wish I had a paper shredder. Instead I will just clean out the fridge and throw in some of Bella's dirty diapers on top of the hand torn old bills and paperwork. Actually I might tackle this project this afternoon. I kind of want it done before I get the decorations up.

My back is feeling a lot better. I have no idea what I did to it this morning, other than stay in the same position for about 20 minutes going through my make-up drawer. I'm thinking of getting my cd's together and putting them a tote and storing them. I don't use them because all of the songs are loaded onto my iPod, iPad, and MacBook. All of those devices hook up to external sound systems, and my car, so I have no need for my cd's unless something happens to my iTunes library and I have to manually upload my music again. Putting them away protects them and frees up space in my bedroom. And I have A LOT of cd's. Hmmmmmm. Lots and lots of projects!

All in all, today has been a great day off. I'm really looking forward to relaxing tomorrow and enjoying the rainy week ahead.

Things to DO

Even though Mondays are my day off, they still have the habit of behaving like Mondays. For instance, this morning I was awakened at 6 AM. Whatever. That I can deal with, I will just go to bed early tonight. However, upon my rising, I discovered I was out of coffee! I faintly recall being out of coffee yesterday and adding it to my mental grocery list but I never did go grocery shopping. I sent Mitch out to the store last night but was lucky enough to remember we needed dog food. Grrrrrrr! I have nobody to blame but myself. I got a pumpkin latte on my way to the grocery store at 7 this morning. Coffee and sugar is bought. I'm home now, even showered and dressed. I'm seriously going to sit down and make the dinner menu for the week.

Mitch made the most fabulous restaurant quality nachos EVER for us for dinner last night. Yummo! All I have to say about that!

I'm going to pick up some pumpkins today. I used to paint the kids' favorite characters on pumpkins for them when they were little and am going to start the tradition for Bella. Oh yeah, and I'm going to try and remember to decorate the house for Halloween, harvest and Thanksgiving.

I'm going to sanitize the bathroom, kitchen and door knobs and light switches today. Zach was running a high fever Saturday and Sunday. It is flu season and even though he's had his flu
and H1N1 shots, I need to start getting the house ready. Stock up on liquid hand soap, make sure he has his hand sanitizer for when he's away from soap and water.

It is supposed to be kind of rainy this whole week. Still in the seventies though, so I might be able to get my miles in outside between showers if I'm lucky. Otherwise, I will use the recumbent bike or the Wii or my Bootcamp Booty or simply a combination of all three.

If you haven't tried Banquet's new fruit pies, they are to die for. Individual size pies much like their pot pies, 350 calories of yummy goodness! I'm the type of person that would eat this as a meal instead of dessert. If you're a meal AND dessert eater, then you're better off finding a lo-cal alternative. I even licked the pie plate!

I'm also going to try and get to Redbox today. Oh and I really really want to see Devil. I might go tonight. Depends on how quickly I crap out this evening.

Happy Friday

So glad this day done! However, it wasn't all bad.

Zach has a football game tonight and Mitch has a soccer game tonight. I tanned and am going grocery shopping later, once I figure out the week's menu. I'll be picking up Zach after his bus gets back to the school.

Kayla takes her CNA test tomorrow. Excited for her! I hope she does well! I will be getting my nails done while she is at the testing site, which is conveniently located across the street!

I also want to get my walk in. Tomorrow it is supposed to hit 90 so I doubt I will be doing too much exercising.

My Aunt is getting remarried in 40 days!!! Doesn't give me much time to prepare! Not sure if the wedding is in PA, NJ, or Maine. Guess I will find out soon!

Chicken and Dumplings

So I'm using the leftover roasted chicken and roasted veggies we had on Tuesday to make chicken and dumplings tonight. Just boiling all the meat off the bones right now. Going to drain off the juice for chicken stock, pick out bones and yucky pieces and then combine it with the veggies. Because everything is already cooked, it will be as simple as heating it up, while the dumplings dumple. Tomorrow we'll have what was scheduled for tonight, instead of having fast food.

Today I'm going to do some office work. Get my papers and client notes together and filed. Not exciting but I'm behind a bit and you'd think it was the end of the dang world. I seriously want a personal assistant. I'm going to make some lists of big goals and then make smaller lists of those goals. I find I'm much more productive that way. I tend to work like a cyclone and while the finished product is always great, it isn't relaxing or stress free getting there! Lists help me stay on task and let me feel like I'm accomplishing things, plus it is thrilling crossing things off my lists, and it feeds into my OCD. Tomorrow I have to actually work 7:30-3. Boo!

I'm going to get my nails, grocery & household shopping done tomorrow night and Saturday morning, freeing up my Sunday and saving gas. This way, my schedule for next week is looking pretty sweet!

22 Weeks!

Yes, Bella is 22 weeks today!!! Didn't she just have a birthday yesterday? Yes, she was 5 months old yesterday, but today is the 22nd week of her birth. She is 16 pounds and 27 inches long. She is wearing clothes in size 9 months. Pretty average for her age. Not too tall and certainly not too small. I made nice healthy babies and it is reassuring my baby made a nice healthy baby.

In other news, this week is flying by. Seems like it was just Monday. I need to get my "book" outlined for Nanowrimo in November. Some of my writing friends are doing the challenge with me. Should be fun. Next week will be a little more leisurely. I had many appointments and meetings and in-services this week. Even on my days off. I may pick up some overtime in the next few weeks. Not sure if I will or not. I might. We have a ton of it available. Christmas is coming and I want to get my husband some nice things. His birthday is in November. Plus I want another vacation in February. And we're going to help Kayla with her CNA class. So the least I can do is pick up a few weeks of overtime. But I haven't sold myself on the idea. Once you start picking up shifts that are only supposed to be temporary till they hire new staff, you look up a year later only to realize you're no longer part time. I only want 30 hours. I am currently at 35.5. Why? Because when Amanda got done, I was asked to cover one of her shifts till they got it filled. That was two years and 6 staff ago. But if I pick up random shifts here and there once a week, I might be able to sneak some overtime in without hearing, "oh, I noticed you're looking for overtime, do you want the shift till we can get it filled?"

Another

Three in one day! Wow! Got my list of things done I guess. It wasn't a very ambitious list. I really hate feeling crampy but my mood is back to normal.

The house smells yummy. The veggies are taking a bit longer than necessary to cook, but I'm in no rush. I ate a very late lunch today.

Today is Stephen King's birthday. Happy Day to my fellow Maineiac.

Why is my son doing his homework in MY room, using MY Macbook? I've offered to redecorate his room, getting him a desk and getting rid of the other bed. It makes it way too dark in there plus I can't stand it. I believe he is doing his homework in my room because I am in my room, trying to accomplish some written tasks, and he needs a study hall monitor. And he's using my MacBook because it is awesome and way better than any net book. Duh!!!

I really do not want to go to the staff meeting tomorrow. Not because they aren't fun. You know they are! It is just right smack in the middle of my day. 11-1. Gahhh! And every other week. Double gahhhh!

I LOVE red wine! All of it! My fave being a nice glass of Pinot noir. Followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Then comes merlot. I'm very excited for this year's beaujolais nouveau. It premiers in November, like it does every year. I'm currently enjoying a half glass of Pinot. My new wine goal for the upcoming year is to try to find a tolerable or should I say palatable white wine. I'm really not a fan unless it comes in the champagne variety. One I can handle is Ecco Domani's Pinot grigio. In my opinion, even a cheap red table wine can be good. It does not pay to go cheap with white wine. As far as grapes and grape juice go, I prefer white grapes. Always. Not sure why it is different with wine.

Okay, I think that is enough babbling for now. Tomorrow and Thursday will be so-so and back to work Friday. Blah. At least it probably won't be as bad as last Friday. Oh well. Que sera, sera.

Feeling Slightly Better

Took a nice drive to Jamestown for my CPR retrain, only to find out the times had been switched to another time. Ugh!!!! Now I have to take it on the 19th of October. The drive however has perked me up. It is 70 degrees out, not a cloud in the sky. The ocean is the bright sparkling blue that occurs with these fall skies.

I'm going to drop the baby and Kayla off at the lab and pick up a few groceries then pick them back up. It is certainly a beautiful day for a walk on the beach. Time to remember and to be thankful for our beautiful surroundings. It is so easy to take it for granted.

I'm very much looking forward to the roasted chicken dinner this evening.

Happy 5 Months, Bella!

I don't have a ton of time to blog this morning. If I were feeling more energetic I would be all done by now, but less energy=procrastination=even less energy.

So my list of things to do today consist of:
-shower
-get CPR retrained
-take baby to SCH for hopefully the last of the blood work
-pick up potatoes, onions, parsnips, carrots for tonights dinner
-cook tonight's dinner of roasted chicken and roasted veggies
-pick up Zach from football practice

I guess if I were in a better mood (not having my period) I would look at this list a bit differently, but because I am in this mood, I only want to see a list that says, stay in pajamas all day.

Unfortunately for me, tomorrow has a similar list.

I could look at the positive side of this bad mood. I made substantial headway in the reading I've found myself behind in. I DID get to wear my pajamas all day yesterday. I also got to spend some very quality time with Annabella. We finished up our day with two books and her falling asleep in my arms.

I don't want to be positive. I want to go back to bed and be resentful because I don't have a personal assistant to do all the things I don't want to do.

September 20, 2010

Some baby is 5 months old tomorrow! She will also be 22 weeks on the 22nd!

I have a busy week ahead but today I have nothing on the agenda. Oh sure, I had a mental list of what I hoped to accomplish today, but now I'm currently feeling blah. Went to bed with a headache, woke up with a headache. My period should start soon, judging from my horrible mood yesterday, not to mention the pimple I have on my chin.

However, coffee is slowly working its magic. I'm hoping to at least clean a little and finish organizing the house before winter sets in. I really want to repaint the ceiling and kitchen this autumn.

We're having real beef stroganoff tonight for dinner. Not the hamburger helper variety. Along with brown and serve rolls. I'm also making apple crisp for dessert. Thankfully, I bought all the groceries for this week's menu yesterday, for the second week in a row, so no time will be wasted today at the grocery store. I did forget the potatoes and parsnips for Wednesday night's roasted chicken and veggie dinner, but since tomorrow will be busy anyway with my CPR retrain and Bella's blood work, I will pick it up tomorrow.

Oh, and yesterday the sweetest little beagle mix (maybe Bassett hound) was sitting at our door. No collar. We asked the neighbors and nobody owns her, and she isn't from our neighborhood. We fed her and gave her fresh water. She met Sierra, who happened to not be so fond of her. There was zero aggression with Sierra or with food. Also no people or baby aggression. Assuming her health is okay, she'd make a wonderful pet. If only she were a he, she would have found her home yesterday! We all fell in love with her, but even though Sierra wouldn't hurt her, we all felt it would put more stress on Sierra, of whom we've expected a lot from lately. She's adjusted wonderfully to the baby and will become her best friend once the baby starts dropping food off her high chair! And she's had to share me with the baby. Not so crazy about that, but she's shown nothing but kindness towards Annabella. Not that she has a choice! The house isn't that big so we're all eyes on all the time.

September 15, 2010

Ugh! My blackberry screen is messing up. What started as a dead pixel on my screen that was the size of a period is now a line of about 20 dead pixels. My phone has not been dropped. It hasn't gotten wet. The only thing out of the ordinary is that I let my husband hold it for like 10 minutes. I'm pretty sure we have insurance on the phone anyway, but sorry, they are fixing it or giving me a new one. What good is having a blackberry if you can't use the screen? Technically, I have to keep the phone till next July or August, I think, but we both want the iPhone when it comes to Verizon. They usually offer buy one, get one deals, PLUS you can video chat with the iPhones! Super cool and will make our separate traveling times more bearable. Obviously, we could Skype if we wanted, but that is lame. Being able to have a phone conversation while seeing the other person without being tethered to a computer is awesome! Seriously, I remember being in like first grade and the teacher talking about how things will be in the future and these phones feel like that future! The only difference is that I envisioned these phones as wristwatch like devices. And I'd really hoped we'd be hovering above the road in our flying cars. We've pretty much accomplished all that our ancestors had envisioned for the future. Now is the time for us to dream about what the future of technology will be like for our great grandkids.

Think about it. We have t.v.s that hang on the wall, with the new led LCD ones being almost flat. We have video phones. We have the capability to eliminate the need for heavy textbooks, using quality book readers like the iPad, not the junk they're currently marketing in the form of Kindle, Nook, and the Sony book reader. Even the invention of the microwave is still huge. You never know how much you rely on it till it breaks. Can you imagine what our great greats would think if they could come visit for a day? Video games with almost lifelike reality. Interactive video games such as the Wii. Media streaming directly to our televisions, eliminating the need for the chunky push button cable box.

I dream of smart houses. A remote that controls everything or even a control room in the brain of the house. The master of the home sits in his chair in the brain room and sets temp controls, water usage, pool temps, switching to solar power when appropriate, setting the security system. All this technology exists, but is still pricey to the average homeowner.

Funny how the single most important invention/discovery for humankind is still penicillin.

Happy Anniversary!!!

It was actually yesterday. I was so happy to be able to spend the whole day with my husband. I needed that day. Unfortunately, our anniversary happened to fall on the one day that I was desperate for sleep. Consequently, we spent the first ten and last three of those hours in bed! I don't think we're complaining about that but I do think we'd have appreciated a little energy during our awake time.

We got lots of presents from each other. Most important to me was spending the day together.

I got the menu and grocery shopping done for this week. Huge save in time for me. Made for a long morning on Sunday but frees me up for the rest of the week. Tonight we're having baked Mac and cheese and Caesar salad. My Yankee candles are burning. I'm slowly getting the house straightened up. The windows are all opened. About 72 right now. Pretty darn perfect day. I was hoping to get some reading in, but I have to run Kayla to the store in a bit and drop off Zach to football practice. After that, it'll be almost time to get dinner prepped.

We got a bigger tv for the living room and hung up the previous living room tv on the wall in our room last night! I love it! 35 inches on the wall at the end of the bed.

Little Miss Bella-boo is 27 inches today. She is growing like crazy! She loves her Fisher Price jumperoo. Loves commercials on television. She loves her toys and loves snatching Sierra's tail when Sierra walks by. She has quite a funny personality already! She will be 5 months old next Tuesday! Her hair is thickening up and getting longer. She also has the cutest dimples when she smiles. She stares intently at you when you're eating your food yet isn't so crazy about her baby cereal and bananas. She's getting the hang of holding her own bottle and will probably start using a sippy cup in another month or two. She is getting more and more mobile every day. She scoots, pushes, or pulls her way across the room. Does get up on her knees trying to crawl, but we have hardwood floors, so we are thinking of getting an area rug for her to learn to crawl easier. This first year is flying right by. Very sad for us. Exciting for her!

9/12/10

Tomorrow is our anniversary! Excited to spend some time with my husband.

Right now I'm enjoying dinner, a movie, and a glass of wine. I'm incredibly thankful for the blessings in my life. I have a closet full of nice clothes. I have lots of shoes. Lots of books, music and other media. Just about every tech gadget available. A safe house to reside, in a very safe neighborhood. A beautiful ocean to look at every day.

What is most important to me though is my family. I have a perfect husband. Great kids. A wonderfully precious doggie. AND a little miss Annabella! I would not trade lives with anybody!

Pumpkin Lattes

Yum!!! A sure sign of the approaching holidays is DD's pumpkin latte. Kind of like seeing eggnog in the grocery stores. That will probably start happening soon, too!

Mitch gave me an early anniversary present. I received my newest Uggs. These ones are the new Bailey triplet in chestnut. Love them! And him! I already ordered his early anniversary present too. Fed Ex will probably deliver it on Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. But he probably already knows that since he checks the credit card statements and I do not. Which probably explains why I got an early present myself. Kind of sucks having both our names on everything, especially when he obsessively checks things. Isn't easy to plan a surprise.

I am planning on sitting in the sun today. I pray the humidity is gone. I want to be able to sit outside and read and relax.

9/3/10

Officially the longest day at work ever! Significant health issues with a client, down three staff, and have manager and asst. manager on vacation. My friend Scott has worked 91 hours this week. I will have worked 47. That is 17 more than I want. Things are really not looking up in this department. Blech.

Took Zach to watch Earl role in. The really big waves aren't going to hit till around 8 pm. Everyone was down at the water. Kind of annoying. This is the last tourist-y weekend. Goodbye and good riddance! I've actually seen Nor'easters bring bigger waves and heavier rain and it is only us locals around to enjoy them.

Heatwave

I *think* this is supposed to be the last day of this heatwave, this heatwave, hopefully being the last of its kind for the year. Simply a crazy weather year this was. Real snow for the first time since moving to Rhode Island, and I was thankful for it! A MAJOR flood that still has Warwick Mall closed for renovations till Spring 2011. Not to mention leaving about 2000 people that worked at that mall, jobless. No rain at all really this summer. Would have been perfect if not for the month of July's 20+ days of 100 degree heat combined with high humidity and poor air quality. August brought us more of the same. Oh yeah, and I didn't mention last fall/early winter, but I recall still having beach days in November and December. Pictures to prove it!

A hurricane is coming! Actually it looks like Nantucket will bear the brunt. Too bad for them, but I believe we had a flood this year ourselves. Here on the southern coast of Rhode Island, we are expected to get winds in the 60-70mph range and storm surges of about 2-3 feet. Pretty mild actually, since I've seen winter storms around here cause more of a storm surge. Like the time I was at the stoplight and the wave crashed over the wall and dumped a heavy load of ocean water and foam onto my windshield, completely freaking me out because I wasn't expecting it. The kids and I love going to the beach during stormy weather, when the waves are huge. I could watch them for hours.

In other news, Bella-boo went to the hospital yesterday. After she woke up, her fever just kept rising. 103* is too high for me to just ride it out. Mitch and I were still thinking ears at this time. NOPE! A UTI, bless her little heart! Antibiotics were started and we're treating the fever with Tylenol and motrin, piggybacking them so she is in no more discomfort than she has to be. She still isn't eating much. She did suck down two bottles of pedialyte at the hospital. I was a nervous wreck yesterday but my friends and family helped me get through it. Being a Nonny is way scarier than just being a mom, I've discovered. My daughter did a fantastic job and she didn't get nervous at all except when I did about the high temp and I said, "okay, we are going to the emergency room.". Up till that point, we were planning on riding the illness out till her doctors appointment on Tuesday. Finally, I just decided I'd rather be told I was over-reacting than to have something be very wrong. Turns out, we did the right thing. The uti would have spread to a bladder infection or possibly even a kidney infection and we would have all been extremely miserable by Tuesday!

Good news, her immune system works and she weighs 15 pounds and is 26 inches long! She is otherwise an extremely healthy baby, the doctor said, and couldn't get over how alert she was. Doctors used to make the same observations of Zach when he was a baby. He was miserable being a baby. He was a big boy trapped in a baby's body, is the only way I can describe it. Bella is very much like her uncle in temperment and in activity. I actually think she surpasses Zach in activity at this age. The only good thing about this fever is that she finally wanted to cuddle.

I was playing peek a boo with her last night. She laughed two times when I would peek over the blanket. After that, she lifted up her end to find me herself, and then I was laughing! I was like, "you're cheating!". Another sign of genetic proof that she is her uncle's niece! He can't play a game without cheating! Definitely gonna get her signed up for gymnastics as soon as she can walk. They call it tumbling when they're real little. She is a little powerhouse of energy and we want her to use this energy for good and not evil! Poor Sierra!

Happy September!

My favorite month of the year because our anniversary is on the 13th. Not to mention, the weather is usually very dry a nd our beaches seem empty with just the locals on them. Ahhhhhhh, heavenly. I wait all year for this month.

Rhode Island has issued an air quality warning. Hmmmm, explains my burning and stinging eyes and burning lungs. Should have been issued yesterday. Maybe they should just step outside instead of reading scientific instruments! We are safe and sound in our little air-conditioned home.

The baby may have an ear infection. She started running a 101.3 temp yesterday. Slept most of the day. When she wasn't sleeping she was just kind of lethargic and whiny. No sign of cold or stomach upset. Her ear felt very warm to the touch. She moves none stop when she's feeling well, so to have her just want to cuddle, is a sure sign she's off. Technically, a fever of 101.3 warrants a trip to the ER for an infant, but having survived raising three of my own, I assured Kayla we could probably make it through the night. We got her comfortable and she slept through the night. Usually ear infections don't allow for that in my experience, so I am still hesitant to drag her to the ER, which also in my experience always turns out more traumatizing on my child than the actual illness. She has a doctors appointment next Tuesday. Obviously, if the fever is still on the high side, she is going to be seen today, but if it goes up and down today, we will treat her discomfort and just keep a close eye on her. There's no congestion at all, not even a hint of a runny nose, so I don't think it is any kind of flu. Four months is around the age the baby's own immune system starts kicking in, so they often will run a temp because their body is starting to fight germs on its own. This is actually a good healthy sign that her body is working like it is supposed to. She is 4 months and 11 days. Well into that phase. If it is an ear infection, but she's sleeping and eating and not screaming all night, then the doctor can decide on Tuesday if it is severe enough to be treated. My kids were not given many antibiotics, aside from penicillin for things like strep, and I'm trying to stress the importance of that to Kayla.

Still it is a bit scary. She is just a sweet baby and I don't like having her uncomfortable one bit. I just wish I could take it all away!

Weird Day

I slept horribly last night. Didn't even try to sleep in because really that is just setting me up to making this a trend. Tonight, I'm going to retire early. I will read for a bit, but I want my eyes closed by 10 the latest.

I got about 1/2 mile in this morning for my workout before I gave up. Even if it is going to be hot, I can usually manage to squeeze in 2 or 3 miles if it is early enough. I was out there at 8:30 am and halfway up the hill, my eyes were stinging from the extremely poor air quality. It was already 87 degrees by that point, with extreme humidity. Gah! Not fun. Now my lungs are congested from breathing that crap in.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow where Hurricane Earl is supposed to make land fall this weekend. Rhode Islanders and people on the Cape are hoping it goes by us. Currently it is a category four with 135 mph winds. Awesome. Earlier during the weekend, we had a severe high surf warning due to Tropical storm Danielle. Should make Labor Day weekend interesting to say the least.

My anniversary is in 13 days! Really feels like we've been together forever. Not in a bad way, just in a we know what we're thinking, gonna do, gonna say, kind of way. Last year was NYC. A carriage ride around Central Park and the VMAs. It was a magical night. That all followed the hugest of huge fights. Hmmm, marriage isn't dull that is for sure!

Ahhhhhhh

Just the baby and me for a few quick minutes. Zach has a football game. Hayley walked to the little store up the road to get us some snacks. Kayla went to the library to do some studying.

Bella is napping. She's been fed, bathed, played with and rocked to sleep. Sierra is next to me, while I blog. Listening to some iTunes and organizing my house. Things are coming together since I began my reorganization. I have little projects for my downtime when I have days off. Which I have plenty of!

Today I dusted. Swept. Mopped. Going through piles of old mail. Seriously wish I had a paper shredder for that. Candles are going. Incense burning. Walls bleached and wiped clean. Really just gearing up for flu season. 95+ degrees outside. I sat outside for about an hour and a half before it got way too hot. The air is going nicely and I even had to turn it down a little.

Sunday

It is 8:45am and I have the whole day ahead of me. Not sure what I want to do. A part of me wants to grab my bike and head over to Block Island on the ferry. Or spend the day at Beavertail in Jamestown, or head to Blue Beach. We haven't been there in two years. Or we could just spend the day at Our beach. Or I may just decide to lay in the sun here at home. Really depends on how hot it is going to get today. Supposed to be in the nineties the next few days. The problem? I really do not want to drive anywhere. I'm really done with traffic by the time I get a day off. Done with traffic lights, stop signs, people in the wrong lanes messing the flow up, moronic pedestrians and people that insist on driving below the speed limit. We all have places we want to be. Is it too much to ask for a driver to actually focus on driving and planning out their route before they venture out? That means looking at the road instead of talking on the phone. I have no problem with people who talk on phones and drive. I do. Just don't be in the wrong lane and expect the world to stop so you can rectify your mistake and STILL not put the phone down!

Plans?

Not really any fun plans. I had to drop Zach off early at school so he could catch his bus to go to his football game. First one of the season. He'll call around 1 to be picked up. I'm going to try to sit in the sun. It is supposed to be in the 90s all week. Awesome. 90+ degrees is too hot for laying in the sun. I'm going to the beach tomorrow and Monday.

Zach starts school on Tuesday. For once, I don't feel as if the summer flew by. I feel as if it kind of dragged on.

Friday, Friday

So glad today is done! Busy day at work all around. Glad I'm only there one day a week.

I took a lovely super hot bath with my Aveeno Lavender body wash. Relaxed a little. Having Asian chicken wraps for dinner. Now I'm going to cuddle with the baby, hen cozy up in bed with my book and hopefully be off into dreamland before 11. I'm having my period so going to bed early-ish is just what the doctor ordered.

I have chapped lips right now. Driving me crazy.

FYI: I'm NOT impressed with AT&T's 3G service for my iPad. Right now it is searching for the network. It does this most evenings around 6, 7, or 8ish PM. My cell service is Verizon. I will be sticking with Verizon because a little birdie told me that Verizon would be carrying iPhones this winter. Till then, I will be sticking with my Blackberry. And Verizon. AT&T, you suck!

I want nothing more than to go back in time a few days to my days off. I had trouble sleeping last night. It got too hot in the bedroom so I woke up and could not fall back to sleep for the longest time. I will not be able to sleep in tomorrow because I have to work and Saturday morning seems so far away and I think Zach mentioned he has a football game anyway, so he will probably need to be dropped off early. No chance of sleeping in on Sunday. Monday it is! I know, I know, I could have a crappy M-F job and never get to sleep in!

And just when life seems so...blah...little Miss Annabella gives me a smile or does something very cute to make me smile. Bella so wants Sierra to join her in her fun, but aside from a lick or two, Sierra just watches her from across the room. She is not jealous or any more protective of the baby than she is the rest of us. She's kind of ok, whatever about the whole baby thing. She does get nervous when the baby cries, but that is about the only time she acknowledges her existence Sierra is just such a good dog. She definitely knows how to go with the flow.

I gotta go jump in the shower. Kayla's boyfriend Mark has an interview in Newport at 10, which I'm taking him to. I have to be at Janice's at 2. Hayley has an interview on Friday at 1. Kayla's classes start soon. As soon as football is over, then Zach needs to get his driver's Ed done so he can get a job. He really wants one and will get hired very quickly. He's smart, good looking and presents well, has a good sense of humor, etc etc. He could have one now, but he needs to be focused on school. Football takes up so much of his free time and he is most definitely NOT an overachiever. This school year finds him in Algebra II, French I (because "he's done with the Spainards!"), chem and History and American lit. Should be an interesting year for Mr. Lazybones! He's hellbent on going to URI. It is an interesting enrollment. I personally not encountered one student that demonstrates any kind of intelligence whatsoever, yet my cousin Nick applied there a few years ago and didn't get accepted. Mind you, Nick was straight A student, just got accepted into med school kind of kid. So I guess I'm confused as to the acceptance process. Anyway, I'm not going to worry. Zach and Mitch have his life all figured out and he won't have to pay tuition in Rhode Island because of Mitch's job. And in two years, I get to move into a fancy condo in the city.

I STILL Don't Like Wednesdays

Even though I don't really work on Wednesdays anymore, the 2nd and last Wednesdays of every month are spent in three hour long staff meetings. The first Wednesday of every month is the three hour committee meeting that I attend. I get paid for the meetings so I guess it would be classified under work. I've been attending these meetings for three years and I believe there's only me and one other person that are original cast members of the ever changing group. The funny thing is, when I go over my notes from three years ago, we're talking about the SAME things!!! Super waste of time in my opinion.

It's days like this that I dream of a coffee/bookstore job but then I come back to reality when I remember that I'd have to deal with customers all day and I'm not a people person. And I'd make like 1/4 of what I make now. No thanks.

Tomorrow I'm buying my candles and hopefully will be in the vicinity of a Walmart so I can pick up one small tote for the last stack of books. I also need to plan out next weeks menu. Zach goes back to school on Tuesday and it will be very stressful the first week or two until we figure out his football practice/game schedule. By figure out, I mean what times I have to pick him up, when is Mitch picking him up, what days I absolutely can't get him, etc. So if I have a menu in place, I won't have to waste time trying to think up something to cook. It worked well for us last school year.

I have to drop off a movie in the Redbox. Hopefully pick out some new ones. There's slim pickings these days. That should change since the Blockbusters and Movie Galleries are all closed.

I suppose I have to get ready. This day has begun whether I wanted it to or not. I really enjoyed my last four days off and I'm sad to say goodbye to them.

Crap

I finished up two Yankee candles in two days. My last tall one will finish up today. I still have the two medium ones I bought two weekends ago with Mitch. Now is the time to buy. I just got a promotional coupon $10 off an order of $25, plus I can use it with the buy one get one 50% off. So two large candles for $35. I will order them online Thursday night. It is a flat rate $5 shipping fee, but it saves me gas and/or tolls going to Cranston or Newport.

Thursday with Janice, I need to pick up one more small tote for the books I have in the corner. These are books I haven't read. The books that I have read are going to the book donation drop off. I'm trying to free my place up. Put away a few baby items that seemed to just be taking up space more than actually being used. I can still get to them if I need to or if we want to switch them out.

We're in the final countdown of "newborn" phase. Bella is doing the military crawl and crab walk scoot to get to things. It'd be easier if we didn't have hardwood floors. Actually it is easier if she is barefoot; then she just slides around. However, she is getting very frustrated not being able to do more or move more efficiently. She gets her knees tucked under her pretty well and kind of dives for things. Like I said, we're on the downward slide of things. She's not interested in the newborn stuff. She's always had excellent head/neck control, even from birth, but she tires less easily now. Does well in her Bumbo seat. She's only in it about a half hour at a time, but she's content in it a little longer each day.

She will definitely be walking in a few short five months. Hayley walked at 9 months. Kayla was 10 months to the day. Can't remember when Zach officially walked because it seems like I carried him till he was twelve. Always his preferred mode of transportation. Being hauled around by his mommy. She definitely has more drive than the three of mine. Really wants to participate in things like a big girl. She is also fascinated by cellphones and my iPad. I have some first words sight apps for her, and all she has to do is touch the screen and it switches to a new flashcard. The computer also pronounces the word. It has animals, foods, baby toys, colors and shapes and letters. It is never too early to start the reading process. Of course she benefits from reading aloud cuddle time, too. I just want Nonny's girl to be very prepared for school. All of Bella's grandparents are willing to spring for all sorts of lessons and activities when the time is right. I started gymnastics at age three and I DO hope she loves the sport as much as I did, but I will survive if she likes soccer. I want her to find her own niche and discover what she likes, but I also want to encourage in her an appreciation for some finer things. We already started her off on the Boston Pops! When she's older, like early teens, I really dream about being able to include her on our travels, to Italy, Greece, Ireland. I'm gonna have lots of fun with this girl!

Today's Not Writing

Today was not spent writing really, though I did blog this morning. I finished my block project. It is fabulous. I will post pics of it soon. Other than that, I spent today grocery and household shopping. AND cleaning! It was a rainy day so I took advantage of it and cleaned the house.

The house looks organized again. The bathroom was scrubbed out and sanitized. Time to get back into anti-flu mode. I've also cleaned out the fridge. Always a nasty job. I washed the floors and febreezed the curtains and couches. Now my candles are burning and I have dinner simmering on the stove. Italian stew. I even slept in a little this morning. All in all, a very satisfying day!

I have one more corner to organize and then the house will be complete-ish. Once I sit down, I always see a million more things to clean or dust.

Not sure what I'm doing tomorrow. It is supposed to rain again. I'd like to catch up on reading and things along that line. It is so nice to have this rain. It is only in the seventy degree range. Feels nice. Did I mention this was a satisfying day?

My crafty mood paid off! I'm in love with the photo blocks I made. I ended up stopping at an unfinished wood furniture store and they had 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 wooden blocks for $.26. Can't beat that! They would have cost more at the craft store! I printed off baby pics of Bella, some letters that spell her name and bought some scrap booking paper in a print I could live with, and some Mod Podge. I am picking up some fine sandpaper today to finish the antiquing process. They are adorable as is, but I want them to have a more finished effect. I picked up a little mantle shelf kit for like $7 and the blocks look perfect on it. Assuming I'd had the supplies (the Mod Podge, foam brushes), this project would have cost $1.20. I also picked up some large photo blocks from the craft store. $5.99 a piece. Did the same with that only using just pictures. Cute, but I prefer to pay for my wood reasonably priced and not amped just because it is in this store.

Next up, I'm going to buy the wood ornament cut-outs and apply the same techniques and make ornaments using the kids pics, Sierra, etc., Christmas wrapping paper on the backs.

Exploring

I've been exploring lots of crafty and/or green blogs. I'm really into this Apartment Therapy bloggish kind of site. I subscribe to it on my Flipboard on my iPad. Anyway they usually feature creative people and what they've done to create a nice place using their small space. I think to qualify, it has to be under 1000 square feet. It has been fairly inspirational and features a lot more homes in my taste range, as opposed to the ones in home design mags, because really, who likes that? I also watch some crafting shows, so today I'm just brimming with crafty ideas.

I really like the idea of revamped thriftshop finds. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Also, one particular blog I'm starting to love, revamps clothes. She makes the CUTEST girl dresses out of t-shirts, old dresses, skirts, bandanas, vintage pillow cases, you get the drift. The dresses take 15 minutes to make. Of course it takes me that long to thread my machine! She also has a way of bringing new life to aging camisoles and tanks, because like skirts, their hems rise and fall drastically season to season!

I've ALWAYS been a clothes horse. That'll never change. I've also never liked seeing things I own on other people. It kind of loses its cool for me, when everyone has one. I'm not talking about staples. Obviously, leggings are in. It is fine for everyone to own a pair of black leggings. It is a trend staple that one should own. Plus they're super comfy no matter your size. I used to love the first day back to school after Christmas vaca to show off my new and hopefully unique clothes.

Gah! I can talk clothes all day! My point is, I'm excited about this new prospect.

Another Day

It is very nice out today. I'm running Hayley to the DMV and I have a meeting to discuss behavioral data for my latest job responsibilities. Fun fun. I'm pretty sure it is as simple as putting the updated copies in the permanent binders. What I really want to do today is get some sun, if it doesn't get stinking muggy out.

I have my iPad loaded with various news sources, which I read in my Flipboard app and in my Slate app. I also subscribe to various mags on my book reader apps. This is how I spend my mornings and evenings. Reading current events, tech trends, celebrity gossip, movie and book reviews and NY Times long reads. It got me to thinking about our current state of technology availability. I read somewhere this morning that the number of devices connected to the Internet are supposed to hit like 5 billion by the end of this month. Crazy. I can get my email in five different venues at least. My Blackberry, my Wii, the PS3, iPad, Macbook, iPod touch and Zach's PSP, and Mitch's Droid. Ok so that is 8. That's excluding net books and other laptops in this house. I'm really never not connected. Honestly, I think it can be a little overwhelming. I have music loaded on every device. Movies and podcasts. I'm all prepared for that day that I'm bored out of my mind or lost in the woods for a day or two, assuming I have a device. Except that day hasn't come. Even when I'm bored, there is always my blackberry, which texts, emails, IMs, calls(who does THAT), face books, tweets, blogs and is even loaded with Office. And I wonder why I'm exhausted after a day off.

This is precisely why I am dragging my feet about my 20th high school reunion this weekend. I already "see" everyone daily. We are minute by minute updated on all our lives. Need a prayer? Facebook. Need cheap car referrals, advice, services? Facebook. Somebody always knows somebody. Weight loss buddy? Done. New haircut reviews? Done. I get to Maine more often than I'd like sometimes, so I visit people face to face as my time allows. I don't feel like if I don't go that I will be missing anything. I highly doubt that I will be able to thoroughly catch up with everyone in my class in a day and to even think of trying overwhelms me. I think some people want to go if they have something to prove or if they were fat in high school and are now thin or what have you. I'm pretty much where I always expected I'd be at age 38. I have nothing to prove. I show my family off daily on facebook and my blog. I'm pretty much the same girl I was in high school, just better educated and probably a little bit nicer, though that's debatable. And my high school friends are in the same boat. We're all comfortably middle-class, except for Allen and his Jag convertible! Lucky duck! :) All have kids. All of us are educated.

I'm sure I'm going to be inundated with up to the minute pics, video calls complete with drunken "get here this minute! You JUST missed Billy fall off the bar stool!" pleas, video
play by plays throughout the day and evening, so I will certainly feel like I'm there.

Still More on NOT Writing

My last post developed a mind of its own! Happens when I'm passionate about a subject and learning processes are among those subjects.

My original post was going to be about my efficiency of NOT writing. Ugh! I need a writing office first and foremost. A place with little distraction, yet it needs to have everything I would need like: coffee maker, filters, creamer, sugar, coffee, snacks, microwave, mini fridge, electric tea kettle. Judy Blume has an amazing office retreat. Check out pics of it on her website. It is fabulous!!! I once passed a car in NY that had JBlum on the license plate. I think it was her but it was like a Honda CV or something. Judy Blume would have a way cooler car than that! But maybe she has obnoxious fans so she tries to blend in, but then why would she put Blume on her plate? So only her true, non-obnoxious fans would recognize her, and nod in her direction, knowing she needs her creative space so she can work her magic, of course!

Instead of writing, I've done a lot of reading about writing. And filing. And cleaning. And cleaning up my filing. I'm probably now the most organized person in my current field. Not necessarily a good thing. It isn't that difficult to stand out. What's that line? The one from Waiting, when the character Mitch says it is like being called the smartest kid with down syndrome. Completely inappropriate, especially considering my current job, but sort of true in this sense.

I spend a lot of time looking at people in my fine state of Rhode Island and comparing them to Family Guy characters. Instead of writing. I also do a lot of driving. It is impossible to get lost in this state. Every road eventually ends back on Rt 2. Trust me, I've tried!

My yard is a highway for the most wild animals I've ever seen in one area, which is saying something since I lived 35 years in Maine! I have deer, rabbits, birds, ticks (boo), coyote, raccoons, skunks, fisher cats, wild turkey, Canadian geese, and the occasional bear gets spotted in town. We also have great white sharks that summer here with the tourists. I wish they'd eat a few hundred. It's odd being so close to three major US cities (Providence, Boston and NYC) and be so rural. In Maine, you generally have to search for animals, but that's because their natural habitat is left mostly undisturbed.

Then of course, there is the fine Internet highway that is easy to get lost and sidetracked on. Everyone is a writer. Everyone is a critic. I was in a used bookstore the other day and found several books on Getting Your Songs Published. Huh? Is there a big market for this? It should have been titled Getting Your 'Getting Your Songs Published' Book Published!

Anyway, this post a huge digression from my current tasks at hand.

On NOT Writing

The summer is winding down here in Narragansett. Can't say I'm sorry to see the tourists go! September is the month us full-timers look forward to very much. Tourists gone, ocean all warm from the hot summer, our beaches are free again. You get the idea. It has been an odd summer though, which is another reason I'm glad it is on its way out. Pretty much hit the 100 degree mark every day in July. Being surrounded by ocean on three sides makes us humid all year round, but this summer was ridiculous. I did not work out or lay in the sun for most of the summer. Even while at the beach, most days were too hot to enjoy yourself, unless you stayed in the water the entire time, which is hard to do with a sleeping baby in the cabana.

Our major goal was to acclimate Bella to our seaside lifestyle as quickly as possible. She's been a trooper! Loves water, the colder the better! She was a perfect angel for our 24 hour 4th of July in Boston, even sleeping through the fireworks and cannon fire and most of the Boston Pops concert. I hope I've helped Kayla realize that you don't have to sit out on the fun just because you have a baby. I had three under the age of 4, and it didn't slow me down much. You just have to plan ahead. Where's the baby going to sleep, have enough diapers and wipes, food etc. Babies can sleep anywhere if they're comfy. Also we made sure there were enough hands to pass her off to if she were to get cranky, which she didn't. Worst case, we'd leave. I think babies respond positively to adults who seem like they have the situation under control. Babies sense fear, tension, anger and happy and calm. So back to the acclimating. She's been on every road trip this summer. Been on every day outing. Like I said, a real trooper.

Babies absorb everything at this age. Every new thing they see forms a new wrinkle on their brain. The more wrinkles you have, the smarter you are. That's why it is so important for the baby to be out of the house at least once a day. It improves vocabulary skills, which a lot parents don't think about as long as their kid is saying mama, dada. Well kindergarten comes fast and so many children end up seeing a speech pathologist the first few years of school because they have speech pattern problems or trouble with sequencing and comparisons/ contrasts, which is bigger, smaller, which part of the story comes first, etc. Reading to your baby is the number one thing you can do for her, but ensuring they are well socialized gives them a confident foot forward, as does talking to them constantly. I'm not an expert but I am an English teacher. Don't think we can't pick out the kids that sat in front of the television their first five years of life.

Attitude is Everything

I got a lot accomplished today, even though none of it was really for me! Janice had a doctors appointment and then some kind of advocacy meeting and then errands to run. I DO get paid for this. Rather nicely to boot, but today was supposed to be my day off. Days off are important to me so I can work on my writing and catch up on things here on the home front. Honestly though, if I'd been home, I'd probably mess around online and not accomplish much anyway!

So

It's been over 48 hours since I purchased anything from the Devil, so I should be able to post my review AND get a new book to read and review. Lesson: sometimes you have to get in bed with the Devil. Irony: this is a supposed Christian book publisher. Things that make you go hmmmm! I hate hypocrisy. Things start out good and well-intentioned and then greed takes over.

Don't get confused by the word. It means saying one thing and doing another. I don't pretend to be good or well-intentioned, because rarely am I. What I am not is a hypocrite. I'm a selfish person, I have about ten minutes of good in me for the random stranger in any given day, I can be shallow, but I'm NOT superficial, and I struggle daily with letting God lead my life. I'm pretty honest about this and I am who I am. God made me imperfectly, so when you see me doing something nice, it is because of Him, and He deserves all the credit!

Ok now I'm off to Booksneeze!

I'm up early. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep early, but I didn't look at the clock before I went to bed. I'm sure it was 9ish. Zachary has football practice till noon. Mitch is at work. I have to get the coffee brewing, my nails done and then run a few more errands. It appears the have rained during the night and I'm not seeing any sun at the moment, so maybe we will have a much needed rainy day.

I'm not feeling terribly creative this morning, writing career wise. Hopefully after some coffee that'll change. My goal for today is to work on some character sketches.

8/15/10

It was a nice time shopping today. We got two new Yankee candles. Autumn Leaves and Autumn Fruit. My house smells yummy. If I wasn't so tired, it might have been a better time shopping. I'll go back tomorrow to get my nails done and to pick up some groceries.

Now we're just relaxing at home, watching some movies and getting ready for dinner and some good wine.

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Such a sweet baby!

High-maintenance Coffee Maker

I must have the slowest coffee maker on the planet. I have a Krups duo coffee/espresso machine. Slow! Not sure if this a brand quirk or not, as I know someone else with this trouble, with a similar machine. If my timer setting worked, I wouldn't have to complain, as I could set the timer when I go to bed and have coffee ready when I wake up. I'm notorious for hanging onto appliances just because they still work and this one takes the cake! Any unsuspecting person could walk into my house and think they could just make a quick cup of coffee the usual way and they'd be wrong.

First, you have to decide how many cups you'll need. I usually make 8 or 10, but it could make 12 if it worked right. See, if you want 8 cups of coffee, you have to fill the carafe to the 9 cup line because it eats a cup of water EVERY time! I have no idea where this extra cup goes. Mr. Krups is thirsty. This is why I can't make 12 cups, because I have no more room in the carafe for that extra cup. If you don't add that extra cup, and make it the right way, you will be minus one cup than you put in, and it will be strong! For instance, if you fill it to the 8 thinking you'll get 8 in return, you're wrong I already mentioned its slow speed and faulty timer. It also needs special care when putting in the special #4 filters. I like to dab my finger in water and touch the rim of the filter once it is in place so as to adhere it, otherwise, a corner or whole side of it will flip down and now you have coffee grounds mixed in your coffee! And there are some mornings that I am in no mood for all this foreplay! So I then go to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks.

I never want to give up my coffee habit. I have cut down on my latte/coffee expenses. We have learned how to brew our own coffee so it tastes even better than coffee shop versions. If I'm just staying home, I brew my own. I only buy coffee when I'm headed to work or running errands, as a special treat. Sometimes I even bring my own coffee from home because I prefer the taste now. Even when I'm back in Maine, the lattes I get from Ampersands don't taste as good as the lattes Mitch makes for me. I still visit Ampersands but it is for the memories and friendships. I spent 1998-2007 going to Ampersands every day. That is $11,497.50 they made from me in 9 years. It was worth that to keep me relatively sane. I would have had to spend a lot more on medications and therapy for a similar effect, I think.

On a different note, I organized my crap for work! Yippee!!! I am now using a larger binder than I've been using, with more room and an expandable file section that I have labeled for each client that I support. Room for my calendar and mileage sheets, as well as expenditures for work, receipts, etc. I don't care to carry a million different folders or use my car as my filing cabinet, like some of the people I work with. This folder has a handle so it has a briefcase like feel. If I out grow this one, then I will need to make some career decisions because really, I don't care that much about this one, to lug that much crap around, suggesting I do.

My Monday AND Friday!

Yes, that's right! Fridays are the only day of the work week that I work at the day program and have traditional 7-3 hours, so Fridays feel like Mondays in the morning, and come 3 o'clock, they become the actual Friday that they are. I even feel as exhausted as I do putting in a full week! Figure that out!

The day program zaps my creative energy so my guess is my blogging and career pursuits will be cut short today. I'm going to relax, eat some dinner, and crack open a bottle of wine. I will take a nice bath before bed, with my Aveeno lavender body wash and put on some comfy jammies and pop in my go to put-me-to-sleep comfort movie It's a Wonderful Life and put an end to this day.

Oh my gosh! I just looked at the clock! It is only 3:30! Oh my oh my oh my!

Ugh!

So my link to the review I wrote for the Devil (Amazon) is STILL not showing up on my site, which makes it difficult to verify with booksneeze.

It has been a long day! Took Janice to her appointment today in Providence, then ran some errands and picked up items for dinner. Spent my free time messing with that stupid Devil site. One more day. That is all I'll give them!

I have to officially work tomorrow. 7:30-3PM. I've basically been working 40+ hours in two days. Crazy, but oddly better than dragging it out all week. As soon as we hire more bodies, I will hopefully be only working about 30 hours. Salve Regina University starts back in September. I have committee meeting stuff going on, now that I'm a Safety Skills Trainer. Zach's football has started. And now, I get to maintain behavioral data for work. Lucky me. I desperately need to get back into my organizational swing. Plus I need to make time for writing! I'm going to put it on a big block calendar and see what blocks I can highlight for writing/reading, work, play and exercise.

Now, it is Bella time!

Review of Booksneeze

Okay before Booksneeze was Booksneeze, it was a cool publishing site that would send you a free book for you to read and then review on your blog. You read. You review. You blog about your read with a review and then they send you a new book! Cool. Except now they've teemed up with the Devil, Amazon.com. You have to post your review to your blog and now Amazon Typically I like Amazon, but in order to post a review, you have to have bought something from them. Hmmmmm, way to go for screwing up something cool! I have bought things from amazon, FYI, but to be forced to? I think I may be taking my business and reviews elsewhere.

Eric Wilson

I review books for Booksneeze and the latest book I've read was Field of Blood: Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy-Book 1 by Eric Wilson.

This book was very entertaining. Historically and biblically accurate, with vampire lore mixed in, Wilson takes the reader to Akeldama (Aramaic for field of blood) where some construction work is about to begin. This site also happens to be where Judas Iscariot, Jesus' disciple, reportedly took his own life, after betraying Jesus. It is also where the "souls" of the demons called Legion, are laying in wait for new hosts to invade.

The "souls" invade and excitement and horror ensue. I'm very much excited to read book two, and have passed this book on to perhaps the biggest vampire critics I know, my teenage daughters.

My iPad

I have been a proud owner of my iPad since July 28th, 2010. I'm going to attempt to give it a proper and honest review.

The packaging was neat and trim and PRETTY. Important first impression. Out of the box, still neat, trim, pretty and very lightweight! I could not wait to get playing! I want to mention I got the best of the best version. Complete with wifi AND 3G capabilities. Just shy of $1000. So imagine my surprise/horror when I turn it on and I only have iTunes on my dock. Say what?! Where's my, I don't know, EVERYTHING??? Not even a calendar. None of the stuff that my Macbook came loaded with when I bought it two years ago. All I got was a message screen saying I had to hook up my iPad to a computer with iTunes. Now, just imagine if I owned say, a Dell, and this Dell did not have iTunes. Maybe I use Limewire or whatever! So I would have to download the latest version of iTunes before my $1000 toy could be played with. Or God forbid, I didn't already own a computer. What then? Luckily for me, I own a computer. With iTunes. So it wasn't a complete backfire.

Other than some griping about what I had to do to set it up, I've had a wonderful experience. Most apps I've added are free. I have bought a couple. I love that I have Amazon's Kindle on this, as well as other book readers, so I can download books and magazines and read them wherever. I have friends that have the Sony book reader and a Kindle and this by far, beats the individual devices, which I will no longer have to purchase.

Things I don't like:
No files (would it kill them to give you a drop down menu that let's you create a new folder?)
No camera

I do want to point out that this toy was created for existing iPod Touch/iPhone users, who expressed that they would use their device for everything, if only it had a bigger screen, thus implying the iPad has everything.

I feel that Apple had a great opportunity to really take technology to a much higher level and instead basically enlarged the iPod Touch. This was an opportunity to offer a full computer with all the handy options of the iPod touch. Blowing all competition out of the universe! I am in love with my toy and can not imagine life without it now, but cell phone companies already offer net books with 3G and this could have been that WITH a touchscreen. A camera would have made the newest coolest thing ever (video calling) even better, because it is so much simpler than Skyping, or traditional webcam on messenger.

I also feel that Apple needs to do a better job of screening the developers of the apps they offer. With free apps, it isn't a huge deal, but if I'm sinking some cash into an app, it had better be all that it said it would be and offer excellent tech support. There are good guys/girls out there, that blow the competition away, but you have to find them In and around the d-bags just trying to rip people off!

All in all, I give my precious 4 1/2 stars out of 5. If Steven Jobs had been a tad more generous, or if he is willing to give me a marketing job and free lifetime upgrades, he'll get 5 stars! I'm sure he doesn't care because he already has my money!

Up Early

Up and in the shower before 8, so it feels early, but actually I was asleep before midnight, so that is almost 8 hours. I feel rested, which I haven't been able to say in a long while. Writing all day yesterday certainly helped my mood, as did not leaving my room except for bathroom or coffee runs. Not getting out of my pajamas was nice, too! I can't remember that last time I did that, excluding sweats or yoga pants. I'm talking real pajama bottoms.

Now I'm waiting for the coffee to brew. I have a few errands before picking up a client and heading to the Washington County Fair. The kids are tagging along for the excitement. That means we have to all be in the car by 11:30. I need to stop at the p.o. for a stamp. Mail that stupid letter. Pick up coffee filters, more coffee, so I have no surprises tomorrow morning.

It has been nice having these days off from work. Usually after I take a few days off, I end up feeling more tired from cramming everything into a few short days and stressed out about what will be waiting for me at work. I'm not sure what was so different about this time, except that I don't start my workweek now the morning after vacation. I don't meet with David till noon on my first day back. That is how it will be till I either get a schedule change or a new job.

The job hunt, or career hunt, I should say, is overwhelming. There are so many people out there that buy a laptop and call themselves writers. I thought hard about this last night, because really, I have written nothing as of late, except my blog. My creative writing days are long over. I haven't written anything of substance since Welch Everman died. I did post a nice obit for him on my blog in my archives. He's been gone about 5 years now. With his passing went my reluctant audience, my mentor, my friend, my professor, academic advisor, critic and favorite storyteller. BUT no more excuses! He would not have wanted me to take a five year break, because frankly I'm not talented enough to take any kind of break at all! He can still be a part of this process. He's in my head and his stories are a part of me.

To rectify the above, I have signed up to a few writing websites, mostly to feel pressure to write and to have a way to build my portfolio, but also to surround myself with writing peers and to get the feel for writing again. I spent a couple of hours on one site last night. I'm afraid there are more people on there that are professional time wasters than I could have imagined. A few serious folk, but mostly just a lot of people trying to do anything but write. I did find a site that suggested different exercises to improve writing technique, which I'm excited to work on. Basically character sketches, name banks, sentence structures, etc.

Time to get ready. I'm sitting here with a towel wrapped around my freshly washed hair.

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Intimidated?

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Jamestown, RI

Techno Savvy

I may never Flickr again! I synched up my Blackberry so I can send MMS messages directly to the blog, which means I can post pics and video from my phone to the blog via the phone. No computer necessary. I may never use my digital camera again if remains this easy!!!

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OMG! This actually works from my phone! Love technology!

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The cutest baby EVER! :)

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Originally uploaded by jennluvsgable

I haven't flickr blogged in a lonnnnng time! Just trying it out again!

Okay Folks!

This is huge! I'm posting after an incredibly long hiatus! I'm back and I promise more consistently! A little back story on the reasons behind the break. First Annabella was born! It has been an exciting 3 1/2 months having her around. Secondly, the drama for the most part is GONE from my life! My husband can be thanked for that. While I don't miss the drama of the single life, my life doesn't have the angst and excitement being single provided. I've struggled a bit with decisions. Either to let go of the blog completely, or create a new one, etc. True fact: I miss blogging. Tried writing a journal. Still going to maintain that for my innermost private thoughts that being married does no longer allow me to share with blogworld. For the record, hubby said I can write what I want, but I find myself censoring my own thoughts more out of respect for our life together. I could maintain a new blog, however I have been blogging since 2004 and I am very proud of that fact, and starting anew feels much akin to starting over. I've come to the conclusion that I have grown and so must the blog. Duh? Right? But understand, growing up=boring in my mind up till this point. I have been feeling like I have become a very boring individual as of late. My life has revolved around parenting, which is way more difficult with them aged 20, 19, and 16 than it has ever been. Trying to get them out of the house and on their own. HARD!!! What little time I have, I try to split with cleaning the house, cooking healthy tasteful meals, being a good Nonny, catching up on reading and FACEBOOK. I am a Facebook junkie. Make that a blackberry junkie. Make that a technology junkie! I'm addicted. I'm always online because my phone has the Internet with unlimited service, so I have no incentive not to be online. I can be reached by text, phone, IM, FB, or email instantaneously 24/7. It is like being in Times Square. Meaning, I feel like I do when I'm in Times Square. Alive. In the now. Part of life's inner workings. Sooooooo, all of this time wasting has left me needing more and more time to spend wasting. I realize this is a long paragraph but it IS all relevant to this paragraph.

My plans for the future of this blog will be career oriented and motivated, with a dash of family anecdotes as they come, and journaling Bella's growth and accomplishments. I hope to focus on my writing career, whether it be reviewing books, movies, music and techno gadgets, or just plain editing and proofreading. As always, I will continue to journal my relationship with Jesus as it plays out. I will continue to blog on my health pursuits, exercising, fad diets and latest work out gear. I also plan on scheduling my days. I currently work most of my 40 hours in just two days time. That leaves many days that need a more formal schedule. If I want to be a serious writer, then I need to get serious.

April 13, 2010

So Annabella is due a week from Saturday. The doctor said she was head down and had dropped into position. Locked + loaded as I like to say. Kayla is also dilated a bit. Any seasoned mom (having more than one pregnancy) knows all that means nothing. Some of us have been told the same things and gave birth two weeks later. Some of us were told oh you have plenty of wait yet, only to give birth two hours later! Little Bella will come when God says it is time. It is a unique time for her to be born. My entire family is still reeling from the loss of my grandfather. If anything good can be had from that loss, it is that it has brought us all back together. Little Bella has her entire family waiting for her arrival. My grandfather was so excited about her. My grandmother is still so sad. To others, she appears fine. I can see it in her eyes. She's here because she has to be. I know it takes time. I'm just not sure we'll ever get her back.
Ok this post took an unexpected turn. In other news, I am keeping up with my hour of cardio a day. We're continuing to improve our eating habits. I gave up red meat for Lent. Definitely cutting out all extra or hidden sodium and preservatives. It truly is amazing what the FDA let's you consume after a bit of research. Annabella will be all organic when she's with her Nonny.

After the baby is born, I'll go home. Give Kay a few days, then the following weekend I will pick up her and the baby to bring to RI for a bit. Kay has a few weeks off from work and her class. Plus I want her to rest while she can and help her get AB on a nice schedule. All three of mine slept thru the night. No pacifiers. Zach had a baby blankie. Zach STILL has BB. He sleeps under Zach's pillow. So many grandmothers don't get the opportunity to be so involved. I'm going to enjoy it. Kayla + Mark both feel I'm a great mom and welcome my help! I DO have to admit to having great kids!

Thoughts for Today

I can't stand when people subscribe to the "mommy's boy/daddy's girl" theory. They've clearly never attended any post-secondary child psych courses. By saying that, one is basically accepting that lack of a parental bond based on gender as an expected social norm.

My oldest daughter clearly prefers Mommy over Daddy. Hayley would prefer me as well, other than we are very much alike in attitude and honestly when she was a baby, her dad bore the brunt of the responsibility as Kayla was 17 months and was vocal about needing my attention. Zach has always been equally a mommy and daddy's boy.

I DO know Annabella will be MY girl! :)

April 8, 2010

Grouchy today. I slept well. Not sick. Just grouchy.

Yesterday was glorious outside. Today is chilly to me even though the sun is shining. Next week will be sunny but 60 and 70. I prefer 70 to 80. Summer is close but not quite here. Maybe that's why I'm grouchy. I'm not one with any amount of patience. I want summer and I want it now! I suppose I need to work on that.

Zach had a great golf day yesterday. So happy for him.

I suppose I should clean something. The house is in good shape. It is days like this that I let slide and then it is a disaster again.

Happy Easter!

Laying in the sun on this fine Easter day!

Hope everyone has a happy holiday! Remember He is RISEN! What a beautiful thing! Because of Him, I can be me, only a better more refined version.

Happy Happy April!

Ok so I'm working out on my recumbent bike and blogging on my phone, so excuse any typos or mis-spellings.

Baby shower this weekend. Grandmother's 80th b-day bash with all the fam. Minus Mitch and Zach.

RI made national news with our flooding of the Pawtuxet river. No big deal for us on the coastline. Minimal water but lots of rain. 20 mins north of us and there is about 3 feet of water on the roads. The kids and state employees got a "rain" day. A first foir them.

15 minutes to go on this thing. Then shower, tan and read my Bible. Have to catch up two days. Have the next 6 days off. Yay!